Mechanisms and Predictors of Change in App-Based Mindfulness Training for Adolescents

Launched by MCLEAN HOSPITAL · Jan 5, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how app-based mindfulness training can help teenagers (ages 13-18) who struggle with rumination, which is a pattern of thinking too much about negative experiences and can lead to depression and anxiety. The researchers want to understand how these mindfulness apps work in the brain and who might benefit the most from them. Participants in the study will be randomly assigned to either use a mindfulness app or be in a control group that does not use the app. They will undergo brain scans and complete tasks to measure their attention before and after the program, as well as report their mindfulness skills and any changes in their rumination through their smartphones.

To be eligible for this trial, participants need to be between 13 and 18 years old, able to read and speak English, and have a smartphone. They should not have certain mental health disorders, serious medical conditions, or a history of severe substance use. Throughout the study, participants will learn mindfulness techniques that could help reduce their negative thinking and improve their mental well-being in a fun and engaging way. This study is currently recruiting, and the goal is to find out more about the benefits of mindfulness apps for teens.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Both genders, all ethnicities (see Section: Inclusion of Women and Minorities)
• • Ages 13-18 years
• • Written informed assent/consent from adolescent and parent/guardian
• • English as a first language or English fluency
• • Right-handed
• • Personal iPhone or Android smartphone
• • CRSQ rumination subscale score
• • If on psychotropic medication, must be on stable dose for at least 2 months
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • History or current diagnosis of any of the following DSM-5 disorders: schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, substance/alcohol use disorder within the past 12 months or lifetime severe substance/alcohol use disorder.
• • Systemic medical or neurological illness that could impact fMRI measures of cerebral blood flow
• • Failure to meet standard exclusion criteria for fMRI scanning (e.g. pregnancy, claustrophobia, cardiac or neural pacemakers, surgically implanted metal devices, cochlear implants, metal objects in the body)
• • History of seizure disorder, or head trauma with loss of consciousness \> 2 mins
• • Serious or unstable medical illness (e.g., cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, respiratory, endocrine, neurologic or hematologic disease)
• • Participants with active suicidal ideation will be immediately referred to appropriate clinical treatment.
• • Current or past treatment with mindfulness-based psychotherapy (e.g., MBCT, DBT or ACT)
• • Exposure to in-person or app-based mindfulness/meditation course (at least 300 mins of past practice)