OMG....Yet another "new" study on the link between PTSD and the whole veteran!
"The mind and body are intimately linked, which is why there needs to be a change in the way post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is treated, say Australian researchers."
The date this came out was today, April 3, 2017.
It wrecks havoc on the body too, impacting the gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, as well as a sufferers’ sleep.
Based on the findings PTSD should be considered a “full systemic disorder” rather than just a mental health problem, says Miriam Dwyer, CEO of the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation.
Yes, it really did say that. It seems as if it has shown up all over the Internet as if no one bothered to even check to see if it was something new or not.
This was done in 1999 and is just one of many...
Combat Exposure, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, and Health Behaviors as Predictors of Self-Reported Physical Health in Older Veterans
SCHNURR, PAULA P. Ph.D.1; SPIRO, AVRON III Ph.D.2
We used path analysis to model the effects of combat exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and health behaviors on physical health. Participants were 921 male military veterans from the Normative Aging Study. Their mean age at time of study was 65. Measures of combat exposure, PTSD symptoms, smoking, and alcohol problems were used to predict subsequent self-reported physical health status. Both combat exposure and PTSD were correlated with poorer health. In path analysis, combat exposure had only an indirect effect on health status, through PTSD, whereas PTSD had a direct effect. Smoking had a small effect on health status but did not mediate the effects of PTSD, and alcohol was unrelated to health status. We conclude that PTSD is an important predictor of physical health and encourage further investigation of health behaviors and other possible mediators of this relationship.
Little attention has been given to spiritually based approaches for managing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in combat veterans. With the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is a growing need for more complementary and holistic therapies to assist combat veterans returning from deployment. Surveyed veterans report that they would use complementary approaches to health care if such programs were available (Bent & Hemphill, 2004; Kroesen, Baldwin, Brooks, & Bell, 2002).We developed a spiritually based group intervention that teaches a series of focusing strategies using mantram repetition, slowing down, and one-pointed attention (Easwaran, 2001, 2005). A mantram is a Sanskrit word meaning “to cross the mind” and is sometimes referred to in the West as “holy name repetition” (Oman & Driskill, 2003) or in the East as “mantra repetition.” Repeating so-called sacred words such as “Om Mani Padme Hum” from Buddhism or holy names such as “Rama Rama,” “Jesus Jesus,” or “Ave Maria,” have been associated with reduced arousal, respirations, enhanced cardiovascular rhythms (Bernardi et al., 2001), and decreased stress and depression (Wolf & Abell, 2003). Unlike other meditative practices, mantram repetition does not require any specific posture, quiet surroundings, eyes closed or any religious/spiritual beliefs. Mantram repetition is easily learned, personal, portable, invisible, and can be readily practiced without changing one’s activities or environment.
The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility, effect sizes, and patient satisfaction of this spiritually based group intervention on mantram repetition in a sample of combat veterans with PSTD. The specific aims were to evaluate (a) recruitment and retention of veterans in the program, (b) effect sizes for PSTD symptom severity, psychological and quality of life outcomes, and (c) level of patient satisfaction of the program. These preliminary findings will be used to conduct a larger randomized controlled trial.
Go to:Background and Significance
PSTD is highly prevalent in military veterans (Kulka, et al., 1990). With the War in Iraq, an estimated 12% to 13% of service personnel have met PTSD criteria following combat (Hoge, Auchterlonie, & Milliken, 2006; Hoge, et al., 2004). Standard treatments for PTSD include medication, cognitive-behavioral and exposure-based therapies, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), relaxation or combinations of these (Bradley, Greene, Russ, Dutra, & Westen, 2005; Foa, et al., 1999; Marks, Lovell, Noshirvani, Livanou, & Thrasher, 1998; Monson, et al., 2006; Taylor, et al., 2003; Watson, Tuorila, Vickers, Gearhart, & Mendez, 1997). Very little attention, however, has been devoted to the spiritual aspects of managing PTSD or studying complementary therapies to mitigate symptoms. We consider the mantram program as spiritual, not religious, because it does not require an institution, congregation, or some formalized group to be practiced.
The mantram intervention program has been studied in veterans with chronic illness (Bormann, Smith, et al., 2005), health care employees (Bormann, Becker, et al., 2006; Bormann, Oman, et al., 2006), and HIV-infected adults (Bormann, Gifford, et al., 2006). Veterans and employees have reported significant reductions in stress, anxiety, anger and improvements in spiritual well-being and quality of life (Bormann, Becker, et al., 2006; Bormann, Oman, et al., 2006; Bormann, Smith, et al., 2005; Bormann, Smith, Shively, Dellefield, & Gifford, 2007). HIV-infected adults have reported significant reductions in anger and increased spiritual faith/assurance (Bormann, Gifford, et al., 2006).
There are actually older studies, but you get the point. None of the so called "new" studies on PTSD are new at all!
Conclusions
A spiritual program was found to be feasible for veterans with PTSD. They reported moderate to high satisfaction. Effect sizes show promise for symptom improvement but more research is needed.
Keywords: posttraumatic stress disorder, veterans, spirituality, quality of life, mindfulness, intervention, meditation, mind–body relaxation
