Transcendental Meditation Reduces ADHD Symptoms
Among Students: New Study
December 30, 2008
The Transcendental Meditation technique may be an effective and safe
non-pharmaceutical aid for treating ADHD, according to a promising new study
published this month in the peer-reviewed online journal Current
Issues in Education.
The pilot study followed a group of middle school students with ADHD who were
meditating twice a day in school. After three months, researchers found over 50
percent reduction in stress and anxiety and improvements in ADHD symptoms.
Effect exceeds expectations
"The effect was much greater than we expected," said Sarina J.
Grosswald, Ed.D., a George Washington University-trained cognitive learning
specialist and lead researcher on the study. "The children also showed
improvements in attention, working memory, organization, and behavior
regulation."
Grosswald said that after the in-school meditation routine began, "teachers
reported they were able to teach more, and students were able to learn more
because they were less stressed and anxious."
Stress interferes with the ability to learn
Prior research shows ADHD children have slower brain development and a reduced
ability to cope with stress. "Stress interferes with the ability to learn -
it shuts down the brain," said William Stixrud, Ph.D., a Silver Spring,
Maryland, clinical neuropsychologist and co-author of the study.
"Medication for ADHD is very effective for some children, but it is
marginally or not effective for others. Even for those children who show
improved symptoms with the medication, the improvement is often insufficient or
accompanied by troubling side effects," Stixrud said. "Virtually
everyone finds it difficult to pay attention, organize themselves and get things
done when they're under stress. So it stands to reason that the TM technique
which reduces stress and organizes brain function would reduce ADHD
symptoms."
While in some cases a child cannot function without medication, there is growing
concern about the health risks and side effects associated with the common ADHD
medications, including mood swings, insomnia, tics, slowed growth, and heart
problems. In 2006 the FDA required manufacturers to place warning labels on ADHD
medications, listing the potential serious health risks.
These high risks and growing concerns are fueling parents' search for
alternatives that may be safer for their kids.
The study was conducted in a private K-12 school for children with
language-based learning disabilities. Participation was restricted to 10
students, ages 11-14, who had pre-existing diagnoses of ADHD. About half of the
students were on medication. The students meditated at school in a group for 10
minutes, morning and afternoon.
To determine the influence of the TM technique, at the beginning and end of the
three-month period, parents, teachers and students completed standard ADHD
assessment inventories measuring stress and anxiety, behavior and social
competency, and executive function. Students were also given a battery of
performance tests to measure cognitive functioning.
"The results were quite remarkable"
Andy and Daryl Schoenbach's daughter was diagnosed with ADHD in second grade.
Like most ADHD children she was taking medication. "The medication helped
but had mixed results - she still lost focus, had meltdowns, and the medications
affected her sleep and appetite," said Andy, who lives with Daryl in
Washington D.C. "She was not performing close to her potential and we
didn't see the situation improving. So at the end of seventh grade when her
doctor recommended increasing the medication, we decided it was time to take a
different course - stopping the medication and using Transcendental
Meditation."
"The results were quite remarkable," Daryl said. "The twice daily
meditations smoothed things out, gave her perspective, and enabled her to be in
greater control of her own life when things started falling apart. It took some
time, but it gradually changed the way she handled crises and enabled her to
feel confident that she could take on greater challenges - in her own words,
'climb a mountain.'"
"Everyone noticed the change," Andy added.
Grosswald explained that there is substantial research showing the effectiveness
of the TM technique for reducing stress and anxiety, and improving cognitive
functioning among the general population. "What's significant about these
new findings is that among children who have difficulty with focus and
attention, we see the same results. TM doesn't require concentration,
controlling the mind or disciplined focus. The fact that these children are able
to do TM, and do it easily shows us that this technique may be particularly well
suited for children with ADHD," she said.
This study was funded by the Abramson Family Foundation and the Institute for
Community Enrichment.
A second, recently completed TM-ADHD study with a control group measured brain
function using electroencephalography (EEG). Preliminary data shows that three
months practice of the technique resulted in significant positive changes in
brain functioning during visual-motor skills. Changes were specifically seen in
the circuitry of the brain associated with attention and distractibility. After
six months TM practice, measurements of distractibility moved into the normal
range.
A third TM-ADHD study, to be funded by a $2 million grant from the David
Lynch Foundation, will more fully investigate the effects of the technique
on ADHD and other learning disorders.
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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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FACT SHEET
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
-- The Center for Disease Control reports that nearly 50 percent of the 4.5
million children (ages 4-17) in the United States diagnosed with ADHD are on
ADHD medication - and the majority of those on medication stay on it in
adulthood.
-- The rate of prescriptions for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in the
U.S. has increasing by a factor of five since 1991 - with production of ADHD
medicines up 2,000 percent in 9 years.
-- The commonly used drugs for ADHD are stimulants (amphetamines). These drugs
can cause persistent and negative side effects, including sleep disturbances,
reduced appetite, weight loss, suppressed growth, and mood disorders. The side
effects are frequently treated with additional medications to manage insomnia or
mood swings. Almost none of the medications prescribed for insomnia or mood
disturbances are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use with
children.
-- The long-term health effects of ADHD medications are not fully known, but
evidence suggests risks of cardiac disorders and sudden death, liver damage and
psychiatric events. It has also been found that children on long-term medication
have significantly higher rates of delinquency, substance use, and stunted
physical growth.
The Transcendental Meditation Technique
-- The Transcendental Meditation technique is an effortless technique practiced
10-20 minutes twice a day sitting comfortably with the eyes closed.
-- TM is not a religion or philosophy and involves no new beliefs or change in
lifestyle.
-- Over 350 peer-reviewed research studies on the TM technique confirm a range
of benefits for mind, body and behavior.
-- Several studies have compared the effects of different meditation practices
and found that Transcendental Meditation provides deeper relaxation and is more
effective at reducing anxiety, depression and hypertension than other forms of
meditation and relaxation. In addition, no other meditation practice shows the
widespread coherence throughout all areas the brain that is seen with
Transcendental Meditation.
-- The Transcendental Meditation technique is taught in the United States by a
non-profit, educational organization.
-- More information can be obtained by calling 888-LEARN-TM or visiting http://www.ADHD-TM.org,
http://www.AskTheDoctors.com,
or http://www.TMEducation.org.
Ken Chawkin
Maharishi University of Management
http://www.mum.edu
Medical News Today: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com
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