Naslov
Mindfulness – focused awareness: application in children at a psychiatric ward

Autori
Boričević Maršanić, Vlatka ; Kordić, Ana ; Flander, Mia

Izvornik
Interdisciplinary Journal of Psychotherapy (2637-2487) 1 (2018); 5-15

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
mindfulness, children’s psychiatric ward, children’s mental health disorders

Sažetak
Mindfulness (focused awareness) pertains to a state of mind in which attention is focused to one’s own experiences (physical sensations, thoughts, emotions) or enviroment (sounds, smells) in the present moment with an accepting and nonjudgmental attitude. Although mindfulness had been present in the tradition of religions of both the East and West for more than 2500 years, mindfulness based therapy (MBT) was brought into modern medical practice in the late 1970s. Studies have shown that mindfulness has positive effects in children on symptoms of depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, impulsivity, eating disorders, addicition. Mindfulness has been incorporated in the comprehensive therapy program at the closed psychiatric ward (ages 7 to 14) since 2015 of the Psychiatric Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Zagreb, Croatia. It is applied in group sessions with children with various mental health disorders combined with other cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques every work day in the duration of approx. 20 minutes. Mindfulness techniques include sensory exercises (smell, taste), breathing exercises, body examination, guided imagination, movement exercises, standing yoga, listening meditation. When applying mindfulness in children it is necessary to shorten the duration of the exercises, as well as adjust them by incorporating elements of play. Mindfulness exercises are gladly accepted by the children and have lead to a reduction in internalised and externalised problems.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Psihologija, Kognitivna znanost (prirodne, tehničke, biomedicina i zdravstvo, društvene i humanističke znanosti)

POVEZANOST RADA