ISSN 1573-6598, 0894-9867
33 papers in the library · 1,464 citations · publishing 1993-2026
Journal of Traumatic Stress September 4, 2026
Healing together: Results from a pilot trial of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-enhanced cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder.
Journal of Traumatic Stress June 1, 2026 Kadek Suhardita, Veno Dwi Krisnanda, Rikas Saputra et al.
In this commentary on Morland et al. (2026)'s recent State of the Science article on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), we aim to emphasize both MDMA's therapeutic promise and its unresolved scientific challenges. Although recent trials on MDMA-assisted interventions have reported encouraging reductions in PTSD symptoms, the...
Journal of Traumatic Stress March 12, 2026 Leslie A. Morland, Barbara O Rothbaum, Lauren M. Sippel et al. 2 citations
There is growing interest in novel approaches to treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including the use of psychedelic substances combined with psychotherapy, often referred to as psychedelic-assisted therapy, to better meet the needs of patients who do not prefer or respond to traditional evidence-based treatments. Among these treatments, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine...
Journal of Traumatic Stress May 7, 2025 Mark Creamer, Richard Bryant, Amy Lehrner et al. 1 citation
This paper is an edited transcript of a plenary panel held at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The panel comprised Drs. Mark Creamer (moderator), Richard Bryant (convenor), Amy Lehrner, Barbara O. Rothbaum, Joseph I. Ruzek, and Paula P. Schnurr. Bringing together clinicians and researchers with a...
Journal of Traumatic Stress February 1, 2022 Mayer Bellehsen, Valentina Stoycheva, Barry H. Cohen et al.
Preliminary studies have demonstrated the efficacy of Transcendental Meditation (TM) for treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The present study extended previous research with a pilot trial of TM as a treatment for PTSD via a single-blinded, randomized controlled design. veterans with PTSD (N = 40) were assigned to a TM intervention or treatment-as-usual (TAU) control group....
Journal of Traumatic Stress August 1, 2021 Linnae Ponté, Lisa Jerome, Scott Hamilton et al. 42 citations Expression of concern
Sleep disturbances (SDs) are among the most distressing and commonly reported symptoms in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite increased attention on sleep in clinical PTSD research, SDs remain difficult to treat. In Phase 2 trials, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy has been shown to greatly improve PTSD symptoms. We hypothesized that MDMA-assisted...
Journal of Traumatic Stress June 10, 2020 Westley Youngren, N. Hamilton, Kristopher J. Preacher
Posttrauma nightmares are recurring nightmares that begin after a traumatic experience and can occur as often as multiple times per week, often in a seemingly random pattern. Although these nightmares are prevalent in trauma survivors, little is known about the mechanisms underlying their sporadic occurrence. The present study aimed to investigate predictors of posttrauma nightmares. The sample...
Journal of Traumatic Stress February 19, 2020 Ingmar Gorman, Alexander Belser, Lisa Jerome et al. 43 citations Expression of concern
Abstract 3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)–assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been shown to significantly reduce clinical symptomatology, but posttraumatic growth (PTG), which consists of positive changes in self‐perception, interpersonal relationships, or philosophy of life, has not been studied with this treatment. Participant data ( n = 60) were pooled...
Journal of Traumatic Stress March 31, 2019 Ariel J Lang, Anne Malaktaris, Pollyanna Casmar et al. 50 citations
There is considerable interest in developing complementary and integrative approaches for ameliorating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Compassion meditation (CM) and loving-kindness meditation appear to offer benefits to individuals with PTSD, including symptom reduction. The present study was a pilot randomized controlled trial of CM for PTSD in veterans. The CM condition, an adaptation...
Journal of Traumatic Stress October 19, 2018 Eric C Meyer, Robyn D. Walser, Barbara Hermann et al.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) frequently co-occur and are associated with worse outcomes together than either disorder alone. A lack of consensus regarding recommendations for treating PTSD-AUD exists, and treatment dropout is a persistent problem. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a transdiagnostic, mindfulness- and acceptance-based form of behavior...
Journal of Traumatic Stress August 1, 2018 Geneviève Belleville, Mylène Dubé-Frenette, Andréanne Rousseau
Sleep disturbances are common among sexual assault victims with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for PTSD does not directly address sleep-related symptoms. Trauma-related sleep disturbances are associated with more impairment and contribute to the maintenance of PTSD. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of a combination of CBT and nightmare...
Journal of Traumatic Stress August 1, 2014 Emma M Seppala, Jack B. Nitschke, Dana Tudorascu et al. 180 citations
Given the limited success of conventional treatments for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), investigations of alternative approaches are warranted. We examined the effects of a breathing-based meditation intervention, Sudarshan Kriya yoga, on PTSD outcome variables in U.S. male veterans of the Iraq or Afghanistan war. We randomly assigned 21 veterans to an active (n = 11) or...
Journal of Traumatic Stress February 1, 2014 Brian Rees, Fred Travis, David Shapiro et al.
This follow-up pilot study tested whether Transcendental Meditation® (TM) practice would significantly reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress in Congolese refugees within 10 days after instruction. The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian (PCL-C) was administered to nonmatched waitlist controls from a previous study 3 times over a 90-day period. Within 8 days of the third baseline...
Journal of Traumatic Stress September 30, 2013 Gerlinde C. Harb, Andrea J Phelps, David Forbes et al.
In this article, the authors provide information on key characteristics of imagery rehearsal treatment protocols and examine the quality of reporting of randomized controlled and uncontrolled trials of imagery rehearsal for treating posttraumatic nightmares. Using a reliable and valid scale, two independent psychologists rated 16 trials. Most reports provided insufficient information on a range...
Journal of Traumatic Stress July 25, 2013 David J. Kearney, Carol A. Malte, Carolyn Mcmanus et al. 232 citations
Loving-kindness meditation is a practice designed to enhance feelings of kindness and compassion for self and others. Loving-kindness meditation involves repetition of phrases of positive intention for self and others. We undertook an open pilot trial of loving-kindness meditation for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Measures of PTSD, depression, self-compassion, and...
Journal of Traumatic Stress April 1, 2013 Brian Rees, Fred Travis, David Shapiro et al.
This matched single-blind pilot study tested the effect of Transcendental Meditation® (TM) practice on symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS) in Congolese refugees. Urban refugees (N = 102) staying around Kampala, Uganda attended introductory meetings. After initial random assignment to the TM group, 30 refugees who revealed that they were unable to attend all meetings and were eliminated from...
Journal of Traumatic Stress October 1, 2012 Gerlinde C. Harb, Richard Thompson, Richard J Ross et al.
The characteristics of nightmares of 48 male U.S. Vietnam war veterans with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as revised dream scripts developed in the course of Imagery Rehearsal therapy, were examined in relation to pretreatment symptomatology and treatment outcome. Features, content, and themes of nightmares and rescripted dreams were coded by 2 independent raters....
Journal of Traumatic Stress June 1, 2012 Salvador Perona Garcelán, Francisco Carrascoso-López, José M. García‐Montes et al.
The purpose of this work was to study the relationship between reported traumatic experiences in childhood and positive psychotic symptoms. We hypothesized that dissociative experiences were potential mediators between childhood trauma and hallucinations, but not delusions. The sample comprised 71 patients diagnosed with psychoses. They were assessed with the Dissociative Experiences Scale...
Journal of Traumatic Stress February 1, 2011 Nirit Soffer-Dudek, Reut Wertheim, Golan Shahar
The relationship between resilience and lucid dreams, which involves awareness of the experience of dreaming, was examined in 79 Israeli young adults. Psychological distress and lucid dreams 3 years prior to exposure to terrorism, and exposure levels and psychological distress 1 week following exposure, were assessed. Both indirect exposure through media and perceived stress predicted an...
Journal of Traumatic Stress October 1, 2010 Joan M. Cook, Gerlinde C. Harb, Philip Gehrman et al.
AbstractOne hundred twenty‐four male Vietnam War veterans with chronic, severe posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were randomly assigned to imagery rehearsal (n = 61) or a credible active comparison condition (n = 63) for the treatment of combat‐related nightmares. There was pre‐post change in overall sleep quality and PTSD symptoms for both groups, but not in nightmare frequency....
Journal of Traumatic Stress November 11, 2009 Leslie M Swanson, Todd Favorite, Elizabeth V. Horin et al. 88 citations
Insomnia and nightmares are hallmarks of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sleep disturbances in PTSD negatively impact clinical course and functioning. In this open clinical trial, the preliminary effects of a combined treatment for insomnia and nightmares in combat veterans with PTSD were assessed. Ten combat veterans participated in a 10-session group treatment combining...
Journal of Traumatic Stress June 1, 2009 Mary Lu, Amy Wagner, Lynn Van Male et al.
Imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) may help reduce residual nightmares and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in veterans after trauma-focused PTSD treatment. Fifteen male U.S. veterans with PTSD and trauma-related nightmares, who had not previously completed trauma-focused PTSD treatment, attended 6 IRT group sessions. No benefits were observed immediately posttreatment. At 3- and...
Journal of Traumatic Stress October 2008 Lynn C Waelde, Madeline Uddo, Renee Marquett et al.
This pilot study examined the effects of a manualized meditation intervention (called Inner Resources) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety symptoms among 20 African American and Caucasian mental health workers in New Orleans beginning 10 weeks after Hurricane Katrina. They participated in a 4-hour workshop followed by an 8-week home study program. Complete...
Journal of Traumatic Stress August 1, 2008 Charles E Thompson, Fletcher B. Taylor, M. McFall et al.
Twenty-two veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were assessed for trauma-related nightmares (NM) and non-nightmare distressed awakenings (NNDA) before and after treatment with the alpha-1 adrenoreceptor antagonist prazosin at an average bedtime dose of 9.6 mg/day. Ratings combining frequency and intensity dimensions of NM decreased from 3.6 ± 2.6 to 2.2 ± 2.4 (p<0.05), NNDA from...
Journal of Traumatic Stress June 1, 2007 Tracy L. Simpson, D Kaysen, Sarah Bowen et al.
The present study evaluated whether Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptom severity was associated with participation and treatment outcomes comparing a Vipassana meditation course to treatment as usual in an incarcerated sample. This study utilizes secondary data. The original study demonstrated that Vipassana meditation is associated with reductions in substance use. The present study...