Promoting Resilience in Youth Through Mindfulness mEditation
Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
The aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to assess whether mindfulness training reduces early stage internalizing problems such as anxiety, worrying, and low mood in help-seeking youth. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1) mindfulness + care-as-usual (CAU) or 2) CAU-only. The mindfulness program was developed specifically for youth with internalizing problems. The 8-week training program consists of weekly 2-hour sessions, with mindfulness, yoga, and mindful active movement in each session. In addition, participants are invited to practice at home in between sessions for around 20 minutes per day. Data will be collected at baseline (T0), end-of-treatment (T1) (or 2-3 months after baseline for the CAU-only group), and at 2 months follow-up (T2) and 6 months follow-up (T3). Measurements will include: * Self-report questionnaires (T0, T1, T2, T3) * Psychiatric diagnostic interview (T0, T3) * MRI scans (T0, T1) * Cognitive tasks (T0, T1) The primary outcome parameter is the total number of internalizing problems measured with the Adult Self Report (ASR) at end-of-treatment. The effect of mindfulness training (mindfulness + CAU vs. CAU-only) on internalizing problems at T1 will be assessed using a linear-mixed effects model.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Youth between 16 and 25 years of age 2. Provide written informed consent 3. Adequate mastery of Dutch language Exclusion Criteria: 1. Lifetime diagnosis of severe major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorder, personality disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder 2. History of major medical illness or neurological illness 3. Participation in a mindfulness programme in the past year 4. Current participation in another intervention study 5. Moderate to severe substance use disorders (i.e., we will allow for mild substance use) 6. Current active suicidality, current psychotic symptoms above clinical cut-off for psychosis, or current trauma-related complaints above clinical cut-off for PTSD. 7. Diagnosed or suspected (mild) intellectual disability (estimated IQ \< 75)