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Effects of mindfulness and psychoeducation on working memory in adult ADHD: A randomised, controlled fMRI study.

Katharina Bachmann, Alexandra P. Lam, Peter Sörös, M. Kanat, Eliza Hoxhaj, S. Matthies, B. Feige, Helge H. O. Müller, J. Özyurt, C. Thiel, Alexandra Philipsen

Behaviour Research and Therapy July 1, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2018.05.002 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Sample size 40
Population Adults with ADHD
Interventions Mindfulness intervention (MAP) psychoeducation (PE)
Duration 8-week intervention
Measures n-back task, Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS), fMRI
Topics Meditation
Key findings Both mindfulness and psychoeducation groups showed significant decreases in ADHD symptoms and improvements in working memory task performance after 8 weeks, with no group differences. Exploratory analyses suggested mindfulness was associated with increased activation in bilateral inferior parietal lobule, right posterior insula, and right precuneus, and symptom improvement correlated with activation in left putamen, globus pallidus, and thalamus.

Abstract

Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a serious mental disorder associated with impaired neurocognitive performance related to working memory function. Recent clinical trials have suggested that mindfulness is a promising intervention in adults with ADHD. We performed a randomised controlled clinical trial to investigate working memory (WM) with an n-back task in adults with ADHD during fMRI before and after an 8-week mindfulness intervention (MAP) compared with psychoeducation (PE). ADHD symptoms were assessed using the self- and observer-rated Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS). The complete pre-post data of 21 MAP and 19 PE participants were analysed. We found no group difference in ADHD symptoms or task performance at the pre-measurement, but there was a significant decrease in ADHD symptoms and significant improvement in task performance in both groups at the post-measurement. Furthermore, we found a significant increase in task-related activation in the right parietal lobe, with no difference between groups. Exploratory two-sample paired t-tests revealed significant increased brain activation after MAP in the bilateral inferior parietal lobule, right posterior insula and right precuneus. A decrease in self-rated 'Inattention/Memory Problems' after MAP compared to baseline was associated with stronger activation in parts of the left putamen, globus pallidus and thalamus.

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

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