This study is a feasibility test of whether incorporating trauma-sensitive yoga into group therapy for female victims of partner violence improves symptoms of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) beyond that achieved with group therapy alone. Seventeen (9 control, 8 intervention) adult female clients seeking group psychotherapy were enrolled. A 12-week trauma-sensitive yoga protocol was administered once weekly for 30–40 min at the end of each group therapy session. The control group received typical group psychotherapy. Feasibility was assessed through recruitment and retention rates as well as participants’ self-reported perceptions of the safety and utility of the study. The study enrolled 85% (17/20) of those screened eligible. Loss to follow-up was 30% (5/17). No one reported emotional or physical harm. All of the respondents reported that the study was personally meaningful and that the results would be useful to others.

In this study, we examined the impact of severe polyvictimization on 30-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Data were collected from 34 participants in the "Leave it on the Mat" pilot study. The study was conducted in an urban city in a Midwestern state from August 2012 to April 2014. Severe polyvictimization was considered present if participants reported a history of three or more forms of victimization (childhood exposure to domestic violence, being psychologically or physically abused in childhood, and lifetime sexual assault) in addition to IPV. CVD risk factors included smoking, body mass index (BMI), and systolic blood pressure (SBP). A Framingham-based prediction model was used to estimate 30-year CVD risk. A linear regression model, adjusted for age, education, race/ethnicity, and family history of CVD, was calculated. Fifty percent ( n = 17) of the study participants reported severe polyvictimization and the average 30-year risk of CVD in the full sample was 22.3. Participants who experienced severe polyvictimization had higher 30-year CVD risk scores when compared to participants who experienced two or fewer forms of victimization. The findings revealed that severe polyvictimization was prevalent among survivors of IPV and was associated with increased scores on the 30-year CVD risk model. Screening for abuse history could aid identification of individuals at high CVD risk.

Yoga is a practice of uniting mind, body, and spirit that has been shown to improve mental health symptoms and is increasingly being used as adjunctive mental health treatment. Less well studied, however, is the impact of incorporating trauma-sensitive yoga into group psychotherapy for at-risk groups, such as survivors of intimate partner violence. Through the examination of care providers' (i.e., yoga instructors, group psychotherapists) viewpoints, the purpose of the present study was to assess, via qualitative interviews, the strengths, benefits, consequences, and challenges of integrating trauma-sensitive yoga into a psychotherapy program in a community setting for female survivors of intimate partner violence. This 12-week program consisted of 90 min of group psychotherapy followed by 30 min to 40 min of yoga taught by a registered yoga instructor. Nine interviews were conducted with 7 care providers following a structured questionnaire format. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and then analyzed thematically. The results indicated that yoga as an adjunct treatment to group psychotherapy for survivors of intimate partner violence may have positive effects for both care providers and clients, exemplified by the identified common themes (e.g., spiritual healing, increased self-confidence, increased mind-body connection). Implementation of such a practice seems to be feasible within community settings with hindrances (e.g., initial client resistance) ultimately being worthwhile for the healing observed in the population served. The care providers reported experiencing more growth than distress in their work. An understanding of this dynamic might allow care providers to focus on these strength areas to increase well-being.

No abstract