Applying Mindfulness-Based Practices in Child Psychiatry

Mindfulness-based interventions for adults, children, and families have grown considerably, and burgeoning evidence supports use of these approaches for a range of clinical presentations, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and addiction. Research into the mechanisms of mindfulness suggests improvements in key brain-based functions including attentional control and emotional regulation. Mindfulness may be relevant for improving emotional and behavioral symptoms in children and families presenting for psychiatric care and also may be an important universal strategy to promote brain health. Child psychiatrists should be familiar with mindfulness-based clinical programs and also may seek to develop mindfulness-based strategies to use in clinical practice.