Author/Authors :
Perry-Parrish, Carisa Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences - Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Pediatric Medical Psychology Program , Copeland-Linder, Nikeea Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine - Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA , Webb, Lindsey Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine - Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA , Shields, Ashley H Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences - Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Pediatric Medical Psychology Program , Sibinga, Erica MS Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine - Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
Abstract :
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) was introduced in 1995 to address the problem of recurrent depression. MBCT is based on the notion that meditation helps individuals effectively deploy and regulate attention to effectively manage and treat a range of psychological symptoms, including emotional responses to stress, anxiety, and depression. Several studies demonstrate that mindfulness approaches can effectively reduce negative emotional reactions that result from and/or exacerbate psychiatric difficulties and exposure to stressors among children, adolescents, and their parents. Mindfulness may be particularly relevant for youth with maladaptive cognitive processes such as rumination. Clinical experience regarding the utility of mindfulness-based approaches, including MBCT, is being increasingly supported by empirical studies to optimize the effective treatment of youth with a range of challenging symptoms. This paper provides a description of MBCT, including mindfulness practices, theoretical mechanisms of action, and targeted review of studies in adolescents.
