After 8 Weeks Of Transcendental Meditation, Veterans Show A 50 Percent Reduction In PTSD Symptoms

After 8 Weeks Of Transcendental Meditation, Veterans Show A 50 Percent Reduction In PTSD Symptoms

Veterans of the Iraq/Afghanistan wars showed a 50 percent resolution in their symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after just eight weeks of practicing the pressure-reducing Transcendental Meditation technique, according to a conductor study published in the June 2011 issue of Military Medicine (Volume 176, Number 6).

The study evaluated five veterans, ages 25- to 40-years-practised, who had served in Iraq, Afghanistan or both from 10 months to two years involving govern or heavy moderate combat.

The study set that Transcendental Meditation produced significant reductions in pressure and depression, and marked improvements in relationships and overall status of life. Furthermore, the authors reported that the technique was flowing to perform and was well accepted through the veterans.

The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) was the primordial measure for assessing the effectiveness of TM constant exercise on PTSD symptoms. CAPS is considered through the Department of Veterans Affairs similar to the "gold standard" for PTSD charge and diagnosis for both military Veteran and civilian trauma survivors.

The paper's senior researcher, Norman Rosenthal, M.D., is clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical School and guide of research at Capital Clinical Research Associates in Rockville, Maryland. Dr. Rosenthal was the rudimentary to describe seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and pioneered the use of light therapy as a usage.

"Even though the number of veterans in this study was diminutive, the results were very impressive," Rosenthal afore~. "These young men were in most distant distress as a direct result of trauma suffered for the period of combat, and the simple and effortless Transcendental Meditation technique actually transformed their lives."

The findings were like to those from a randomized controlled study of Vietnam veterans conducted ~ dint of. researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. In that study, published in the Journal of Counseling and Development in 1985, after three months of twice-daily TM use, the veterans had fewer symptoms than those receiving usual psychotherapy of the day. In performance, most of the TM-treated subjects required ~t one further treatment.

"Even though the contend experiences of OEF/OIF veterans and Vietnam veterans are to a great extent different, the fact that our study corroborates the results of the former study tells us that this technique has the in posse to be an effective tool off PTSD and combat stress, regardless of war situation," explained Sarina Grosswald, EdD, co-researcher in successi~ the study.

Rosenthal hypothesizes that Transcendental Meditation helps lower classes with PTSD because regular practice produces drawn out-term changes in sympathetic nervous a whole activity, as evidenced by decreased blood pressure, and lower reactivity to emphasis. "Transcendental Meditation quiets down the nervy system, and slows down the 'take arms-or-flight' response," he said. People through PTSD show overactive fight-or-shower responses, making them excellent candidates beneficial to Transcendental Meditation.

Rosenthal points out that in that place is an urgent need to supply effective and cost-effective treatments as far as concerns veterans with combat-related PTSD. "The circumstances is common, affecting an estimated individual in seven deployed soldiers and Marines, greatest number of whom do not get enough treatment. So far, only one treatment - simulation exposure to battleground scenes - has been deemed energetic, but it requires specialized software and hardware, educated personnel and is labor intensive.

"Based forward our study and previous findings, I put faith in Transcendental Meditation certainly warrants further study for combat-related PTSD," says Rosenthal.

Rosenthal is the creator of a new book, "Transcendence: Healing and Transformation through Transcendental Meditation," which will be released by Tarcher Penguin without ceasing June 2, 2011.

Results of the modern "PTSD and Meditation" study will be announced at special presentations: Tuesday fall of day, June 7, in New York City, and Wednesday twilight, June 8, in Washington, DC.

Watch: Reduction of PTSD Symptoms in Veterans through Transcendental Meditation.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A novel report paints a stark picture of the duty on the U.S. military of towards a decade of war: higher strain and lower morale. The report, released Thursday, May 19, 2011, at the Pentagon, relied in c~tinuance questions to soldiers and Marines in Afghanistan in July and August of finally year and compared responses with similar surveys in 2005 and 2009. The state noted "significant decline in reports of individual morale" being of the kind which well as "acute stress rates significantly higher" than in earlier years.