The Effectiveness of Group Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for Reducing Mild to Moderate Depressive Symptoms in Primary Caregivers of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of Group Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), psychoeducation and usual care for reducing mild to moderate depressive symptoms in primary caregivers of children with ADHD.

Methods: Main caretakers of children diagnosed with ADHD who visited psychiatric outpatient department, Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health between 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2020 were enrolled if their Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) scores were lower than the cut-off point indicating severe depression (HRSD≤17). They were purposive sampled to group-based MBCT (3-hour, one session) or group psychoeducation (1 hour) or as usual care. HRSD were used for assessing the degree of depressive symptoms whereas the severity of ADHD symptoms in their child were measured by Swanson, Nolan and Pelham Questionnaire (SNAP-IV) before and at one month after the group session.

Results: Participants were randomized sampling into a MBCT groups (n=20), Psychoeducation groups (n=20) and Treatment as usual care (n=21). The mean score of HRSD in MBCT group were declined significantly from 8.20 ± 4.69 to 5.60 ± 4.88 (p=0.004, d=0.74) at one month after the intervention, as well as the mean HRSD score of participants in as usual care (p=0.038, d=0.49). There was no significant change in HRSD score of participants in psychoeducation group. Likewise, there was no significant change in SNAP-IV score of ADHD symptoms reported by participants in all three groups.

Conclusion: One session of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy is an effective targeted intervention to reduce depressive symptoms in caretakers of children with ADHD.