BUSM Professor Finds New Coping Method for Veterans with PTSD
A recent study by researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) found that symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in military veterans decreased and mindfulness skills increased after brief mindfulness telehealth intervention. Mindfulness is a meditative practice that encourages both awareness of the present moment and nonjudgmental acceptance of the ongoing flow of thoughts, feelings and emotions. Mindfulness has shown promise in treating many psychological and physical disorders.
The study examined two different treatments to help veterans who suffer from symptoms of PTSD. One treatment educated veterans about symptoms of PTSD and the other introduced mindfulness skills for veterans to use to cope with their symptoms. Both treatments were ‘telehealth’ and included eight weekly sessions, comprised of two face-to-face meetings with a therapist followed by six telephone sessions.
Data collected from 24 veterans pre- and post-treatment and at a six-week follow-up assessment included results of the PTSD Checklist (PCL), Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI) and Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). The results indicated a decrease in PTSD symptoms and an increase in skills for practicing mindfulness over the course of the study and suggest that a brief telehealth intervention may be effective both in reducing symptoms and increasing levels of mindfulness. The findings appear in the journals Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy and Mindfulness.
“The combination of face-to-face and telephone sessions is a useful way to deliver treatment for PTSD,” said lead author, Barbara Niles, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry at BUSM. “Veterans reported that they were very satisfied with the convenience of the telephone format and showed a reduction in PTSD symptoms at the end of the telehealth mindfulness treatment.”
Results of this study suggest that mindfulness meditation should be further explored as a treatment for PTSD. This study also highlights that mindfulness can be delivered through a telehealth format, a more flexible alternative to traditional face-to-face treatment, with successful results for veterans with PTSD.