PTSD symptoms, substance use, and vipassana meditation among incarcerated individuals.
T L Simpson, D Kaysen, S Bowen, L M MacPherson, N Chawla, A Blume, G A Marlatt, M Larimer
Journal of Traumatic Stress June 1, 2007 DOI: 10.1002/jts.20209 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIn an incarcerated sample, PTSD symptom severity did not predict who chose to take a Vipassana meditation course, and the course led to significantly greater reductions in substance use than treatment as usual, regardless of PTSD severity. The findings suggest Vipassana meditation merits further investigation for people with both PTSD and substance use problems.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Secondary analysis of a controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Incarcerated individuals |
| Interventions | Vipassana meditation course treatment as usual |
| Key finding | Vipassana meditation was associated with significantly greater reductions in substance use than treatment as usual, regardless of PTSD symptom severity. |
Abstract
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 found that PTSD symptom severity did not differ significantly between those who did and did not volunteer to take the course. Participation in the Vipassana course was associated with significantly greater reductions in substance use than treatment as usual, regardless of PTSD symptom severity levels. These results suggest that Vipassana meditation is worthy of further study for those with comorbid PTSD and substance use problems.