Those who are uncomfortable with the idea of medicating children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder may want to look at alternative treatments – such as meditation.

According to research published in the online journal Current Issues in Education, transcendental meditation showed promise for improving the stress and anxiety levels of ADHD sufferers.

“The effect was much greater than we expected,” commented lead researcher Sarina J. Grosswald. “The children also showed improvements in attention, working memory, organization and behavior regulation.”

As part of the study, 10 young people aged 11-14 with ADHD took part in thrice-daily meditation sessions. Around half of the participants were also on medication.

All subjects performed a battery of tests at the beginning and end of the session, which the researchers said produced “remarkable” results.

Meanwhile, a separate study of brain function was conducted that indicated transcendental meditation caused changes in the part of the brain that is associated with attention and distractibility.

Approximately half of children with ADHD take medication for the condition, according to figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.