Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review and Feasibility Case Series in Adolescents with Acquired Brain Injury

Introduction: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been adapted for children and adolescents, but evidence for their use in rehabilitation is still emerging. We sought to synthesize the pediatric MBI literature through a scoping review and apply the insights to a feasibility study of an application-based MBI for adolescents with acquired brain injury (ABI) as an approach to support cognitive-communication rehabilitation. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search in seven databases for studies involving MBIs for children and adolescents (ages 2 to 17) that used experimental or quasi-experimental designs and included essential mindfulness curriculum components. The Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System (RTSS) informed data analysis and interpretation of findings relative to intervention details and outcome measures. Findings informed the choice of a brief 5-day, 10-minute-per-day mindfulness program to evaluate feasibility in involving three adolescents aged 12-17 years with ABI. Results: Fourteen studies met our scoping review inclusion criteria for rehabilitation constructs. Three trends emerged: (1) significant variations in MBI types, (2) good feasibility and acceptability across diverse populations, and (3) frequent underspecification of treatment targets and ingredients. To extend key findings for practice, we selected an application-based MBI with defined targets and ingredients for our accompanying case series. Adolescents found the intervention generally feasible and acceptable, and reported improvements in mindfulness, well-being, and fatigue. Conclusions: Future pediatric MBI research should specify mindfulness ingredients and targets to improve reproducibility and strengthen the evidence base. The current feasibility study offers preliminary evidence supporting the use of core mindfulness ingredients, such as present-moment attention and emotional and behavioral self-regulation, showcasing the potential utility of MBIs for cognitive-communication outcomes.