Meditation and mindfulness in clinical practice

Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2014 Jul;23(3):487-534. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2014.03.002.

Abstract

This article describes the various forms of meditation and provides an overview of research using these techniques for children, adolescents, and their families. The most researched techniques in children and adolescents are mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, yoga meditation, transcendental meditation, mind-body techniques (meditation, relaxation), and body-mind techniques (yoga poses, tai chi movements). Current data are suggestive of a possible value of meditation and mindfulness techniques for treating symptomatic anxiety, depression, and pain in youth. Clinicians must be properly trained before using these techniques.

Keywords: Adolescents; Anxiety; Children; Depression; Meditation; Mindfulness; Transcendental meditation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Child
  • Complementary Therapies / methods
  • Humans
  • Meditation / methods*
  • Mental Disorders / therapy*
  • Mindfulness / methods*
  • Psychotherapy / methods
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Treatment Outcome