Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction for Veterans with PTSD
A significantly greater awareness of the prevalence and effects of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has become a reality thanks in no small part to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the over 2 million veterans who were a part of those conflicts. According to the Veterans Affairs Administration (VA), it is widely accepted that approximately 20% of those returning veterans meet the criteria to be diagnosed PTSD (National Center for PTSD, 2018). Due to this, there has been a significant amount of research dedicated to recognizing the symptoms as well as the different ways to treat these symptoms in order for the veteran to live a healthy life. The leading modes of treatment are traditional talk therapy and medication programs that combined, have shown significant results in reducing the symptoms these veterans face. In addition to traditional methods, emerging treatments are making headway that seek to satisfy the same results through alternative means.
One major area that is gaining prominence as part of a multi-disciplinary approach is Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MSBR) which focuses on ways, “…to notice not only the things that surround you, but also to pay attention without judgment to sensations that happen within the body, regardless of how painful they seem,” (Rousseau, 2019, p. 25). This non-judgmental acceptance of in the moment thought allows the client to focus on the small moment between stimulus and action, and rather than reacting, accept the stimulus. MSBR utilizes breathing techniques, meditation and activities like yoga which promote mental stability and a peacefulness within oneself (Whole Health for Life, 2017).
This approach has shown positive results in the decline of symptoms within veterans during active participation in MSBR (Polusny, 2015). When successful, MSBR removes the judgement or expectation the veteran has from the stimulus, which would normally trigger a reaction, by helping them stay in the moment rather than refer to previous experiences to formulate future expectations. Studies on the effects of MSBR in PTSD symptom reduction has shown positive results, with one particular study achieving a 50% reduction in symptoms in its patients (Polusny, 2015). This same study further revealed that after 2 months of not practicing MSBR, the same patients saw their symptoms return to pre-study levels. While this study shows that MSBR cannot act as a stand-alone treatment, there is significant promise in its effect to enhance traditional forms of therapy and should be considered for incorporation into the overall treatment of veterans with PTSD.
References:
National Center for PTSD. (2018, July 24). Retrieved April 22, 2019, from https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_veterans.asp
Polusny, M. A., Erbes, C. R., Thuras, P., Moran, A., Lamberty, G. J., Collins, R. C., . . . Lim, K. O. (2015, August 04). Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Veterans: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26241597
Rousseau, Danielle. (2019). Module : Pathways to Recovery: Understanding Approaches to Trauma Treatment [Class Handout]. Boston, MA: Boston University, CJ702.
Whole Health For Life. (2017, December 11). Retrieved April 22, 2019, from https://www.va.gov/PATIENTCENTEREDCARE/Veteran-Handouts/Introduction_to_Mindful_Awareness.asp