Centering prayer in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews January 30, 2025 Yanín Machado, Mauricio Chinchilla, Calixto Machado et al.
Centering praying (CP) appears to help manage post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in female sexual assault survivors. In a small randomized controlled trial, five women with PTSD due to sexual abuse or rape received CP treatment, while five matched controls did not. After treatment, patients showed significant improvement on the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Quantitative electroencephalography revealed a stable increase in theta activity (4–8 Hz) in the left parietal-temporal-occipital areas, which progressively decreased toward normal as treatment continued. The authors conclude that CP offers a distinct, accessible pathway for promoting emotional regulation and resilience rooted in spirituality.