Mindfulness intervention for child abuse survivors

Abstract

Twenty-seven adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse participated in a pilot study comprising an 8-week mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction (MBSR) program and daily home practice of mindfulness skills. Three refresher classes were provided through final follow-up at 24 weeks. Assessments of depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and mindfulness, were conducted at baseline, 4, 8, and 24 weeks. At 8 weeks, depressive symptoms were reduced by 65%. Statistically significant improvements were observed in all outcomes post-MBSR, with effect sizes above 1.0. Improvements were largely sustained until 24 weeks. Of three PTSD symptom criteria, symptoms of avoidance/numbing were most greatly reduced. Compliance to class attendance and home practice was high, with the intervention proving safe and acceptable to participants. These results warrant further investigation of the MBSR approach in a randomized, controlled trial in this patient population.

Meditation and Yoga can Modulate Brain Mechanisms that affect Behavior and Anxiety- A Modern Scientific Perspective

“…Studies have proven that attention training programs have helped to lower anxiety levels, as the subjects are able to shift their attention away from the threatening stimulus [29]. In a research experiment, victims, who were sexually abused in their childhood, partook in an 8-week mindful meditation course, and they displayed statistically significant decreases in their PTSD symptoms, anxiety and depression [30]. When a group of PTSD survivors went through eight sessions of psychoeducation (education about mental health), and another group underwent mindful meditation, it was reported the latter group expressed a higher reduction in PTSD symptoms at the end [29, 31].…”

Childhood maltreatment, psychological resources, and depressive symptoms in women with breast cancer

“…In a large sample of homeless women, self-esteem mediated the association between childhood abuse and depressive symptoms (Stein, Leslie, & Nyamathi, 2002). Further, mindfulness-based interventions are effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety (Hofmann et al, 2010), including among adult survivors of childhood abuse (Kimbrough, Magyari, Langenberg, Chesney, & Berman, 2010). These studies offer initial evidence that optimism, mastery, self-esteem, and mindfulness may all explain variability in depressive symptoms among individuals exposed to maltreatment in childhood.…”

Childhood Trauma and Active Mental Processes: Dissociation and Metacognition Influence Control of Negative Thoughts

“…Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT; Linehan 1993) provides training in mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation skills, capacities that may be compromised in survivors of trauma (Briere and Rickards 2007;Thompson, Arnkoff, and Glass 2011). Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR; Kabat-Zinn 1990) also teaches effective coping strategies such as mindfulness and self-compassion, and appears helpful in survivors of childhood abuse (Kimbrough, Magyari, Langenberg, Chesney, and Berman 2010). Finally, trauma-focused cognitive therapy (TF-CBT; Cohen and Mannarino 2008) emphasizes the development of both emotional expression and effective emotion regulation strategies.…”