A Systematic Review of Yoga and Meditation for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children.
Natalie A Gonzalez, Navya Sakhamuri, Sreekartthik Athiyaman, Bhawna Randhi, Sai Dheeraj Gutlapalli, Jingxiong Pu, Maheen F Zaidi, Maithily Patel, Lakshmi Malvika Atluri, Ana P Arcia Franchini
Cureus March 1, 2023 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.36143 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA systematic review of 10 studies found that yoga and meditation positively affect attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior in children with ADHD. These practices also appeared to improve anxiety, low self-esteem, and family dynamics when done in group sessions. The authors suggest yoga and meditation are beneficial as supplemental therapy rather than standalone treatment, and call for larger, longer-term research.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) |
| Interventions | yoga meditation |
| Keywords | ADHD Children Meditation ADHD Children Mindfulness ADHD Children Yoga Meditation therapy Yoga therapy |
| Citations | 13 |
| Key finding | Yoga and meditation positively affect attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior in children with ADHD, and may also improve anxiety, low self-esteem, and family dynamics. |
Abstract
With attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) being a prevalent disorder in childhood, it is essential to acknowledge the different adverse effects the disorder can have on the quality of life in children. Therefore, this systematic review focuses mainly on children. Medical therapy, especially stimulants, can have many side effects. Our systematic review aims to evaluate the potential of other non-medical treatment options for ADHD, such as yoga or meditation. We used PubMed and Google Scholar as databases for this systematic review. Using different combinations of medical subheadings (MeSH) and key terms, followed by the application of several inclusion/exclusion criteria and filters to narrow down our search. From an initial 51,675 articles, we selected 10 papers that passed our screening process and quality check to analyze in depth. Yoga and meditation positively affect various symptoms in children with ADHD, including attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. If done in family group sessions, it also benefited the parents and family dynamics, suggesting a potential option for family therapy. Furthermore, other psychological symptoms, such as anxiety or low self-esteem, appeared to be positively impacted by these interventions. Although yoga and meditation positively influenced children with ADHD, a more in-depth research is necessary with a more significant number of participants and over a more extended period of time. The results of the included studies suggest a substantial benefit. Nonetheless, as the number of studies is limited, at present yoga and meditation could be beneficial as supplemental therapy rather than being used alone as a therapy for ADHD.