Parents report fewer behavioral problems in youth following MBSR
Children born very prematurely (under 32 weeks gestational age) are at a higher risk for developing disorders such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and anxiety disorders. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), known to improve executive function and emotional regulation, might benefit these children. A study by Siffredi et al. explored the effects of an 8-week mindfulness intervention on young adolescents born very prematurely, comparing them to a group of full-term adolescents.
Adolescents born prematurely had higher scores for executive and behavioral difficulties compared to their full-term counterparts. After the mindfulness-based intervention, parents noticed significant improvements in their children's ability to think and manage their behavior. These improvements were linked to longer activations in brain areas involved in self-regulation, attentional control, and paying attention to important information. However, there were no changes in the overall “wiring” between related brain regions.
The study concluded that MBI can reduce parental ratings of behavioral problems in prematurely born adolescents, with improvements linked to longer activation in specific brain networks.
References:
Siffredi, V., Liverani, M. C., Fernandez, N., Freitas, L. G. A., Borradori Tolsa, C., Van De Ville, D., Hüppi, P. S., & Ha-Vinh Leuchter, R. (2024). Impact of a mindfulness-based intervention on neurobehavioral functioning and its association with large-scale brain networks in preterm young adolescents. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences.
https://doi.org/10.1111/pcn.13675
https://goamra.org/news/13372522
MBCT and grief therapy offer similar acute relief for prolonged grief
Prolonged grief disorder affects up to 10% of bereaved individuals, causing significant emotional pain. Grief-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (GF-CBT) is effective in reducing grief symptoms, but many find it too challenging. When offered GF-CBT, up to 25% decline it, and 50% don't respond.
A study by Bryant et al. compared GF-CBT with Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) in treating prolonged grief. 100 Australian patients underwent 11 weeks of weekly 90-minute sessions. GF-CBT included tasks like writing letters to the deceased, while MBCT was adapted to focus on grief.
While both groups demonstrated improvements in prolonged grief, depression, and grief-related cognitions, at the 6-month follow-up, GF-CBT showed greater reductions in grief and depressive symptoms compared to MBCT. Both therapies improved anxiety and quality of life, but GF-CBT had a more lasting impact.
References:
Bryant, R. A., Azevedo, S., Yadav, S., Cahill C., Kenny L., Maccallum F., Tran J., Choi-Christou J., Rawson N., Tockar J., Garber B ., Keyan D., Dawson, K. S. (2024). Cognitive Behavior Therapy vs Mindfulness in Treatment of Prolonged Grief Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry.