Randomized controlled trial of a mindfulness‐based intervention in adolescents from the general population: The Mindfulteen neuroimaging study protocol

Abstract

Aim: Adolescence is a period of vulnerability to stress. Increased anxiety during this period has been associated with the later development of mental disorders, hence the growing interest for interventions that could decrease stress reactivity and improve cognitive control in adolescents. Mindfulness-based interventions have demonstrated their efficacy on stress reactivity and anxiety in adults, but evidence is lacking in youth. Methods:The Mindfulteen Study is a 3-year longitudinal cohort with a nested randomized controlled trial examining the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for adolescents. Young adolescents from the general population, aged between 13 and 15 years old, with no history of current mental health disorder (apart from past mood disorders or current anxiety disorders) are included and stratified into low or high anxiety based on trait anxiety scores before being randomized to early or late 8-week intervention groups. Primary outcomes are based on neuroimaging data (i.e., structural and functional measures in the cortico-limbic network) while secondary outcomes are psychological (i.e., anxiety and stress-associated dimensions) and biological (i.e., cortisol, inflammatory and redox markers). Assessments are performed at baseline, immediately after intervention or waiting time and after 18 months of intervention. Conclusion:To the best of our knowledge, this is the first randomized controlled trail examining the effect of a mindfulness-based intervention in young adolescents from the general population based on the measurement and analyses of psychological, neuroimaging and biological data.

Inflammation and emotional regulation: a narrative review of evidence and mechanisms in emotional dysregulation disorders

“…Furthermore, unravelling the mechanisms linking ED and inflammation may provide a groundwork for new interventions to support the prevention and treatment of EDD. As supported by preliminary results (45,75,404), the use of adaptive ER strategies may positively impact peripheral inflammation and, possibly, modulate the sensitivity to stress. Vulnerable subjects can be trained to deploy effective ER strategies through psychosocial interventions, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), or mindfulness (405) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, for instance.…”

Sex-specific interactions between stress axis and redox balance are associated with internalizing symptoms and brain white matter microstructure in adolescents

“…This study was nested in the Mindfulteen study, which is a randomized controlled cross-over clinical trial investigating the impact of a stress-reduction intervention based on mindfulness meditation on adolescent well-being [ 52 ]. Briefly, the Mindfulteen study recruited adolescents between 13 and 15 years old.…”

“…For the current study, we included only data drawn from the baseline evaluation and blood sampling (Visit (V)0 and V1), prior to the intervention. Detailed information concerning recruitment, inclusion and exclusion criteria are available in the published protocol [ 52 ].…”

The effect of mindfulness-based intervention on neurobehavioural functioning and its association with white-matter microstructural changes in preterm young adolescents

“… 22 for further details). The same MBI was already used with success at the Geneva University Hospital in the context of another study 26 .…”