Click here to download the PDF of this article (Reading the entire article requires a payment to Sage Publications) Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry Harrison et al. 9 (4): 479. (144K) Sahaja Yoga Meditation as a Family Treatment Programme for Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder LINDA J. HARRISON Charles Sturt University, Australia RAMESH MANOCHA University of New South Wales, Australia KATYA RUBIA Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK ABSTRACT The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as a treatment for children diagnosed with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is wide-spread, but little is known on the effectiveness of many such therapies. This study investigated meditation as a family treatment method for children with ADHD, using the techniques of Sahaja Yoga Meditation (SYM). Parents and children participated in a 6-week programme of twice-weekly clinic sessions and regular meditation at home. Pre- and post-treatment assessments included parent ratings of children's ADHD symptoms, self-esteem and child­parent relationship quality. Perceptions of the programme were collected via parent questionnaires and child interviews. Results showed improvements in children's ADHD behaviour, self-esteem and relationship quality. Children described benefits at home (better sleep patterns, less anxiety) and at school (more able to concentrate, less conflict). Parents reported feeling happier, less stressed and more able to manage their child's behaviour. Indications from this preliminary investigation are that SYM may offer families an effective management tool for family-oriented treatment of childhood ADHD. KEYWORDS attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), child­parent relationships, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), meditation THE MOST COMMONLY used treatment for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in North America and Australia continues to be psycho-stimulant medication (Goldman, Genel, Bezman, & Slanetz, 1998; Rubia & Smith, 2001; Vance & Luk, 2000), which has been found to improve the core behavioural and cognitive features of ADHD, Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry 1359­1045 (200410)9:4 Copyright © 2004 SAGE Publications (London, Thousand Oaks and New Delhi) Vol. 9(4): 479­497; DOI: 10.1177/1359104504046155 www.sagepublications.com 479