Treating Pediatric Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Mindfulness: A Case Series

Abstract

ABSTRACT Mindfulness interventions have been shown to be effective in the treatment of anxiety for both adolescent and adult populations. However, little research has investigated and tested the use of mindfulness as an intervention for child anxiety. This may be in part due to the question of the developmental appropriateness of mindfulness techniques for this age group, given children’s limited capacity for attention and abstract thinking. This case series discusses the format and effectiveness of a pilot mindfulness intervention for children ages 9 to 12 with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The treatment is comprised of developmentally tailored, concrete exercises using the senses to teach mindful awareness of the present moment. This case series describes four children who received a 6-session, individual intervention with parental involvement. Outcome data and qualitative case descriptions are presented. Results indicated improvements in the clinical severity of GAD from pre- to post-treatment, as well as at the 8-week follow-up assessment, for each participant. The treatment also demonstrated high feasibility and acceptability to families. Overall, the study provides promising preliminary support for a mindfulness-based pilot treatment specifically tailored for children with GAD.