In looking for quick and effective treatment for PTS for returning service members, Scripps Hospital Center for Integrative Medicine, in conjunction with Camp Pendleton and the Samueli Institute, conducted a randomized controlled trial to determine whether a complementary medicine intervention (Healing Touch with Guided Imagery [HT+GI]) reduced PTSD symptoms, as compared to treatment as usual (TAU) with returning combat-exposed active duty Marines with significant symptoms of posttraumatic stress.
Active duty military (n = 123) were randomized to 6 sessions (within 3 weeks) of either Healing Touch plus Guided Imagery (Healing Trauma by Belleruth Naparstek) or Treatment as Usual. Outcomes measured were PTSD symptoms (the PCL – i.e., the PTSD Check List) and depression (Beck Depression Inventory), quality of life (SF-36), and hostility (Cook–Medley Hostility Inventory).
Repeated measures analysis of covariance with intent-to-treat analyses revealed a statistically and clinically significant reduction in PTSD symptoms (p < 0.0005, Cohen's d = 0.85) as well as depression (p < 0.0005, Cohen's d = 0.70) for HT+GI vs. TAU.
HT+GI also showed significant improvements in mental quality of life (p = 0.002, Cohen's d = 0.58) and reduction in cynicism (p = 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.49) vs. TAU.
The investigators conclude that the Healing Touch plus Guided Imagery intervention resulted in a clinically significant reduction in PTSD and related symptoms in a returning, combat-exposed active duty military population.
Further investigation of these and like approaches is warranted for mitigating PTSD in military populations .
Citation: Jain, Shamini; McMahon, George F.; Hasen, Patricia; Kozub, Madelyn P.; Porter, Valencia; King, Rauni; Guarneri, Erminia M. Healing Touch With Guided Imagery for PTSD in Returning Active Duty Military: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Military Medicine, Volume 177, Number 9, September 2012, pp. 1015-1021 (7)
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What a relief for returning troops to have this acknowledgement and treatment for their very real symptoms at last.
I received my CD for Traumatic Brain Injuries and was pleased at hearing the references to the neurons affected and neuroplasticity. I can see the understanding of both PTSD survivors and TBI survivors as a result of processing these references to the effects of Stress on the structures and functions of the Brain.
New reserch is showing that alcohol consumption causes the trauma memories to remain acute, causing anger which may results in violence projected on loved ones, which is an unintentional aftereffect of traumatic memories and alcohol, so this reinforces that the way to soothe ourselves is not through the consumption of alcohol.
... written by Debra,
September 27, 2012
I am curious why the two treatments were tried together. Could another study be done to see if Healing Touch alone or Imagery alone accounted for the significance, so that our work could focus on the most effective? Or if they are only effective in combination, would it not be useful to confirm this?
... written by Belleruth,
September 28, 2012
There are studies showing that this particular guided imagery (Healing Trauma) is effective at reducing PTS symptoms, but to my knowledge, nothing had been done to date with Healing Touch. Why Mimi Guarneri and Rauni King chose to do both together? I think they just wanted to devise an intervention that would have maximum impact in a very short amount of time. They were interested in helping these Marines first; sorting which did what later. It's a pretty urgent situation for some of these returning warriors, and I applaud the choice - wish more researchers took this attitude.
... written by paul,
November 07, 2012
Francine Shapiro discovered a simple, yet very effective method for the treatment of ptsd:
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I received my CD for Traumatic Brain Injuries and was pleased at hearing the references to the neurons affected and neuroplasticity. I can see the understanding of both PTSD survivors and TBI survivors as a result of processing these references to the effects of Stress on the structures and functions of the Brain.
New reserch is showing that alcohol consumption causes the trauma memories to remain acute, causing anger which may results in violence projected on loved ones, which is an unintentional aftereffect of traumatic memories and alcohol, so this reinforces that the way to soothe ourselves is not through the consumption of alcohol.