Meditation Techniques for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Marina A Khusid
Oxford Medicine Online September 1, 2016 DOI: 10.1093/med/9780190205959.003.0004 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Meditation Mindfulness meditation |
| Topics | Meditation PTSD |
| Key findings | Evidence for meditation as an adjunctive treatment for PTSD and related comorbidities is expanding, though it is not sufficient to support meditation as a first-line PTSD treatment. The authors report that meditation may reduce intrusive memories, avoidance, and anger and may increase self-esteem, pain tolerance, energy, and coping, and that one comparative effectiveness review concluded mindfulness meditation is beneficial for reducing depression, pain, and mental health-related quality of life. |
Abstract
Although there is currently insufficient evidence to support meditation as a first-line treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the evidence base for meditation used adjunctively in the management of PTSD and related psychiatric comorbidities is rapidly expanding. The 2010 Veterans Administration/Department of Defense (VA/DoD) clinical practice guideline (CPG) for management of PTSD states that mind–body approaches may be considered adjunctive treatment for hyperarousal symptoms. Although several reviews support the conclusions reflected in the CPG, others suggest meditation interventions may be more useful in managing PTSD than originally speculated. Meditation may help reduce intrusive memories, avoidance, and anger; and increase self-esteem, pain tolerance, energy, and ability to relax and cope with stress. One comparative effectiveness review concluded that mindfulness meditation is beneficial in reducing psychological stress consequences, such as depression, pain, and mental health-related quality of life.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on PTSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychedelic Psychiatry's Brave New World. | 2020 | Review | |
| Reviewing the Potential of Psychedelics for the Treatment of PTSD | 2020 | Review | |
| Novel psychopharmacological therapies for psychiatric disorders: psilocybin and MDMA. | 2016 | Review | |
| MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD: Are memory reconsolidation and fear extinction underlying mechanisms? | 2018 | Review | |
| Clinical applications of hallucinogens: A review. | 2016 | Review |