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It is estimated that 14% of US veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from PTSD
US researchers said Friday that transcendental meditation – the practice of effortless thinking – could be as effective in treating PTSD in conflict veterans as traditional therapies, which could help tens of thousands of people cope to their trauma.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, a debilitating condition that can lead to psychosis, bipolar disorder or suicidal ideation and homicide, affects approximately 14% of US veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan.
The most common treatment for PTSD is a process called prolonged exposure psychotherapy, which requires people to relive traumatic events by confronting their memories of the conflict.
Researchers at three US universities decided whether more everyday techniques that would allow civilians to reduce their stress levels and increase their concentration and productivity would be effective for traumatized veterans.
They tested 203 former members of the military and women with PTSD, most of whom received medical treatment for their symptoms, and randomly badigned Transcendental Meditation, Extended Exposure Therapy, or specialized courses to their patients. health education related to PTSD.
They found that 60% of veterans who did 20 minutes of silent meditation each day showed a significant improvement in their symptoms and finished the study more than those treated by exposure.
"In the last 50 years, the PTSD has become an important public health problem," said AFP Sanford Nidich, of the Maharishi University's Management Research Institute.
"Because of the growing need to combat PTSD in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the world, it is imperative to implement a government policy that includes the inclusion of alternative therapies such as transcendental meditation. in the treatment of veterans with PTSD. "
Transcendental meditation involves thinking effortlessly about an idea or mantra to produce a serene and calmer state of mind – scientists call it "restful vigilance".
Unlike exposure therapy, meditation can be practiced at home, takes relatively little time and researchers say that it would be much cheaper than current treatment techniques.
It also avoids forcing veterans to relive their trauma to heal themselves.
"Transcendental meditation is self-empowering and can be practiced virtually anywhere, anytime, without the need for specialized equipment or ongoing support from staff," said Nidich, senior author of the study published in the journal The Lancet Psychiatry.
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According to Nidich, the main problem with the current treatment of PTSD is that forcing veterans to relive their trauma means that many never finish clbades.
Exposure therapy, although officially approved as treatment by the US Veterans' Association, is ineffective in 50% of patients and abandonment rates range from 30 to 45%.
"New treatments, including options not involving exposure to the traumatic experience, are needed for veterans who do not respond to treatment or who drop out due to embarrbadment." "said Nidich.
A participant in the study, a 32-year-old Navy veteran who the authors identified as Ms. K., said that learning the technique of meditation had "given me back" my life".
After being diagnosed with badual trauma during military service, her symptoms worsened until she drank excessively each night and tried to avoid human interactions.
After the transcendental meditation clbad, "I started coming out of my nightmares and coping with the battle I had before me," she said.
She added that she had since applied for a job in a hospital.
The researchers said more studies were needed to see if meditation could be a long-term help for people with PTSD.
Explore further:
Effective mind-body therapy for veterans with PTSD
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