Methylphenidate or Family Mindfulness? Effects on Internalizing, Externalizing and Social Problems in Children with...

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Behavioral Psychology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is frequently associated with externalizing, internalizing, and social problems.
• These comorbidities significantly impact a child's overall functioning and quality of life.
• Identifying effective treatment strategies for these associated problems is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of methylphenidate medication versus a mindfulness-based intervention (MYmind) for children with ADHD.
• To evaluate the impact of these treatments on internalizing, externalizing, and social problems in children with ADHD.
• To assess the short-term, medium-term, and long-term effects of both interventions.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 4-month treatment durations.
• Participants were allocated to either a mindfulness group (n=46) or a medication group (n=42).
• Data were collected from four informants (mothers, fathers, children, teachers) at 2, 4, and 10 months post-treatment using multilevel modeling.

Main Results:

• Both treatment groups demonstrated improvements across all outcome measures from baseline.
• Methylphenidate showed greater initial reductions in internalizing, externalizing, and social problems compared to mindfulness at the short-term follow-up.
• By the long-term follow-up (10 months), no significant differences in treatment effects on these problems were reported between the groups.

Conclusions:

• Mindfulness programs offer a viable alternative to medication for managing externalizing, internalizing, and social problems in children with ADHD.
• The comparable long-term effectiveness suggests mindfulness interventions can be a valuable non-pharmacological option.
• These findings support the integration of mindfulness-based approaches in comprehensive ADHD care.