Mapping the Current Research on Mindfulness Interventions for Individuals with Cerebral Palsy: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a chronic neurological disorder that can cause motor and cognitive disabilities. Mindfulness is a form of meditation that has gained attention as a potential therapeutic intervention for improving the health and well-being of patients with CP. Four databases were searched until January 2023. A scoping review was conducted to explore the role of mindfulness in the management of CP by reviewing the available scientific literature. Studies that examined the effects of mindfulness on motor function, communication, and quality of life in patients with CP were analyzed. The gray literature and reference lists of included articles were not identified. The results were presented in numerical and thematic forms. From an initial pool of 30 registered studies, only 3 met the inclusion criteria. These selected studies reported positive effects of mindfulness interventions on communication abilities and stress management in patients with CP. The available evidence suggests that mindfulness may have beneficial effects on motor function, communication, and quality of life in patients with CP. The findings of this review highlight the potential of mindfulness as a complementary therapy for improving the health and well-being of patients with CP.

Keywords

cerebral palsy - mindfulness - therapeutic intervention - motor function - quality of life

Author Contributions

R.T. proposed the revision project and identified the framework. R.T. proposed the methodology. R.T. identified the research strategy. R.T. extracted and analyzed the data. R.T. supervised the methodology. All authors conducted the revision and developed the first and subsequent drafts of the manuscript.

Publication History

Received: 22 August 2023

Accepted: 02 January 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
05 January 2024

Article published online:
05 February 2024

• References

• 1 Sellier E, Platt MJ, Andersen GL, Krägeloh-Mann I, De La Cruz J, Cans C. Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy Network. Decreasing prevalence in cerebral palsy: a multi-site European population-based study, 1980 to 2003. Dev Med Child Neurol 2016; 58 (01) 85-92
• 2 Novak I, Hines M, Goldsmith S, Barclay R. Clinical prognostic messages from a systematic review on cerebral palsy. Pediatrics 2012; 130 (05) e1285-e1312
• 3 Lutz A, Slagter HA, Dunne JD, Davidson RJ. Attention regulation and monitoring in meditation. Trends Cogn Sci 2008; 12 (04) 163-169
• 4 Chiesa A, Calati R, Serretti A. Does mindfulness training improve cognitive abilities? A systematic review of neuropsychological findings. Clin Psychol Rev 2011; 31 (03) 449-464
• 5 Novak I, McIntyre S, Morgan C. et al. A systematic review of interventions for children with cerebral palsy: state of the evidence. Dev Med Child Neurol 2013; 55 (10) 885-910
• 6 Mak C, Whittingham K, Cunnington R, Boyd RN. MiYoga: a randomised controlled trial of a mindfulness movement programme based on hatha yoga principles for children with cerebral palsy: a study protocol. BMJ Open 2017; 7 (07) e015191
• 7 Mak C, Whittingham K, Cunnington R, Boyd RN. Effect of mindfulness yoga programme MiYoga on attention, behaviour, and physical outcomes in cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial. Dev Med Child Neurol 2018; 60 (09) 922-932
• 8 Mak CK, Whittingham K, Boyd RN. Experiences of children and parents in MiYoga, an embodied mindfulness yoga program for cerebral palsy: A mixed method study. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2019; 34: 208-216
• 9 Mak C, Whittingham K, Cunnington R, Chatfield M, Boyd RN. Six-month follow-up of a mindfulness yoga program, MiYoga, on attention, executive function, behaviour and physical outcomes in cerebral palsy. Disabil Rehabil 2022; 44 (06) 967-973
• 10 Høye H, Jahnsen RB, Løvstad M. et al. A mindfulness-based stress reduction program via group video conferencing for adults with cerebral palsy—a pilot study. Front Neurol
• 11 Bishop SR, Lau M, Shapiro S. et al. Mindfulness: a proposed operational definition. Clin Psychol Sci Pract 2004; 11: 230-241
• 12 Mak C, Whittingham K, Cunnington R, Boyd RN. Efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions for attention and executive function in children and adolescents—A systematic review. Mindfulness 2018; 9: 59-78
• 13 Majeed MH, Ali AA, Sudak DM. Mindfulness-based interventions for chronic pain: Evidence and applications. Asian J Psychiatr 2018; 32: 79-83
• 14 Peters: Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewer's Manual, JBI - Google Scholar [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jun 9]. Accessed January 01, 2024 at: https://scholar-google-com.ezproxy.unibo.it/scholar_lookup?hl=en&publication_year=2020&author=MDJ+Peters&author=C+Godfrey&author=P+McInerney&author=Z+Munn&author=AC+Tricco&author=H+Khalil&title=Joanna+Briggs+Institute+Reviewer%27s+Manual%2C+JBI
• 15 Tricco AC, Lillie E, Zarin W. et al. PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR): checklist and explanation. Ann Intern Med 2018; 169 (07) 467-473
• 16 Dan B. Mindfulness and rehabilitation. Dev Med Child Neurol 2017; 59 (05) 452
• 17 Schmalzl L, Crane-Godreau MA, Payne P. Movement-based embodied contemplative practices: definitions and paradigms. Front Hum Neurosci 2014; 8: 205
• 18 Grossman P, Niemann L, Schmidt S, Walach H. Mindfulness-based stress reduction and health benefits. A meta-analysis. J Psychosom Res 2004; 57 (01) 35-43
• 19 Tharaldsen KB, Bru E. Evaluating the mindfulness-based coping program: an effectiveness study using a mixed model approach. Ment Illn 2012; 4 (01) e11
• 20 Hofmann SG, Sawyer AT, Witt AA, Oh D. The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on anxiety and depression: a meta-analytic review. J Consult Clin Psychol 2010; 78 (02) 169-183