The effects of mindfulness and cognitive strategy interventions on core symptoms in children with ADHD: A randomized controlled trial.
Xueke Wang, Li Chen, Tingyong Feng
Journal of Affective Disorders October 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.120513 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 70 |
| Population | Children with ADHD aged 6-12 |
| Duration | 12-week intervention; 1- and 4-month follow-ups |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Both mindfulness-plus-cognitive-behavioral and cognitive-behavioral-plus-mindfulness 12-week interventions reduced parent-rated ADHD symptoms in children compared with usual care (effect sizes 0.68 and 0.55), with effects maintained at 1- and 4-month follow-ups. Reliable improvement was more common in intervention groups (63.6% and 52.2%) than controls (8.0%), and improvements in inhibitory control predicted symptom reduction. The mindfulness-first group showed greater reductions in hyperactivity-impulsivity and executive function deficits. |
Abstract
Psychological interventions based on mindfulness and cognition have shown promise for treating ADHD, yet their application in children remains understudied. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and sustainability of mindfulness and cognitive strategy interventions in reducing core symptoms of ADHD in children. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted involving 70 children with ADHD aged 6-12, who were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a mindfulness-based cognitive intervention group (M + CB, n = 22), a cognitive-based mindfulness intervention group (C + MB, n = 23), both of which consisted of a 12-week intervention involving mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral strategy training, or a control group (n = 25) that followed care-as-usual without psychological intervention. Both M + CB and C + MB groups showed significant reductions in parent-rated ADHD symptoms [M + CB: d = 0.68, p < 0.01; C + MB: d = 0.55, p < 0.01] at post-treatment compared to the control group. These effects were consistently maintained at 1- and 4-months follow-ups. A higher proportion of children showed reliable post-treatment improvements in the intervention groups versus the control group (63.6 % vs. 52.2 % vs. 8.0 %, p < 0.01), with those having more severe baseline symptoms benefiting more from the intervention. Significant improvements were also observed in child-measured inhibitory control, with these changes predicting the degree of improvement in core symptoms. Additionally, the M + CB group exhibited greater reductions in parent-rated hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms and executive function deficits, as well as enhanced performance in child-measured executive function. This study provides evidence supporting the effectiveness of interventions combining mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral strategies for children with ADHD, which may be valuable treatment options for reducing symptoms and enhancing executive functions.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions for children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis Frontiers in Psychiatry September 16, 2026
- Effects of open- versus closed-skill exercise combined with mindfulness training on inhibitory control in children with ADHD: protocol for a three-arm randomised controlled trial with fMRI BMJ Open July 1, 2026
- The use of mindfulness based interventions for school-aged children with ADHD in the United States - a literature review. Child Neuropsychology: A Journal of Normal and Abnormal Development in Childhood and Adolescence July 22, 2026
Cites 16
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