The Effects of Yoga on Attention, Impulsivity and Hyperactivity in Pre-school Age Children with ADHD Symptoms

Objective: Behavioral therapies are first-line for preschoolers with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Studies support yoga for school-aged children with ADHD; this study evaluated yoga in preschoolers on parent- and teacher-rated attention/challenging behaviors, attentional control (Kinder Test of Attentional Performance [KiTAP]), and heart rate variability (HRV). Methods: This randomized waitlist-controlled trial tested a 6-week yoga intervention in preschoolers with ≥4 ADHD symptoms on the ADHD Rating Scale-IV Preschool Version. Group 1 (n = 12) practiced yoga first; Group 2 (n = 11) practiced yoga second. We collected data at 4 time points: baseline, T1 (6 weeks), T2 (12 weeks), and follow-up (3 months after T2). Results: At baseline, there were no significant differences between groups. At T1, Group 1 had faster reaction times on the KiTAP go/no-go task (p = 0.01, 95% confidence interval [CI], −371.1 to −59.1, d = −1.7), fewer distractibility errors of omission (p = 0.009, 95% CI, −14.2 to −2.3, d = −1.5), and more commission errors (p = 0.02, 95% CI, 1.4–14.8, d = 1.3) than Group 2. Children in Group 1 with more severe symptoms at baseline showed improvement at T1 versus control on parent-rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire hyperactivity-inattention (&bgr; = −2.1, p = 0.04, 95% CI, −4.0 to −0.1) and inattention on the ADHD Rating Scale (&bgr; = −4.4, p = 0.02, 95% CI, −7.9 to −0.9). HRV measures did not differ between groups. Conclusion: Yoga was associated with modest improvements on an objective measure of attention (KiTAP) and selective improvements on parent ratings.