Complementary and integrative interventions for PTSD
To treat the impact of trauma, most current evidence supports the use of trauma-focused psychotherapy as the first line approach. However, millions of individuals exposed to trauma worldwide seek Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) therapies in hopes of achieving wellness above and beyond red...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-11-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2247888 |
| _version_ | 1797688210175819776 |
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| author | Barbara Niles Ariel Lang Miranda Olff |
| author_facet | Barbara Niles Ariel Lang Miranda Olff |
| author_sort | Barbara Niles |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To treat the impact of trauma, most current evidence supports the use of trauma-focused psychotherapy as the first line approach. However, millions of individuals exposed to trauma worldwide seek Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) therapies in hopes of achieving wellness above and beyond reducing symptoms. But what is the evidence for CIH interventions? What are potential pitfalls? Given the growing popularity of and strong interest in CIH, EJPT is featuring research on these approaches in this special issue. The papers range from common interventions such as mindfulness to the use of service dogs and scuba diving to alleviate trauma related symptoms. A featured editorial highlights the importance of defining when, where, and how placebo responses work. Nonspecific elements of treatment such as positive expectations, therapeutic rituals, healing symbols, and social interactions are identified as factors influencing treatment response and scientists looking to add to the CIH evidence base are encouraged to consider the impact and methodological challenges these elements present. CIH interventions more specifically recognize and harness some of these factors in addition to intervention-specific factors such as attention or emotion regulation along with focus on overall wellbeing. The body of work in this special issue supports the emerging evidence for meditative and relaxation-based interventions and illustrates a creative but nascent state of the field. Cross-intervention mechanisms that may play a role in achieving wellness, such as arousal reduction, emotion regulation, posttraumatic growth, and positive affect are highlighted. The trauma field would benefit from accumulation of evidence for promising CIH interventions, evaluation of potential mechanisms, and examination of health and wellbeing outcomes. With the paucity of high-quality trials, it would be premature to recommend CIH interventions as first-line treatments. However, the emerging literature on CIH continues to advance our understanding of what works and how these interventions exert their effects. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:28:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-151ff8c4ad564a6aaee3cec0fb2f2832 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2000-8066 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:28:59Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| spelling | doaj.art-151ff8c4ad564a6aaee3cec0fb2f28322023-09-12T09:18:45ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology2000-80662023-11-0114210.1080/20008066.2023.22478882247888Complementary and integrative interventions for PTSDBarbara Niles0Ariel Lang1Miranda Olff2National Center for PTSD, Behavioral Science Division and VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of MedicineVA San Diego Healthcare System and University of California San DiegoAmsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, & Amsterdam Public HealthTo treat the impact of trauma, most current evidence supports the use of trauma-focused psychotherapy as the first line approach. However, millions of individuals exposed to trauma worldwide seek Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) therapies in hopes of achieving wellness above and beyond reducing symptoms. But what is the evidence for CIH interventions? What are potential pitfalls? Given the growing popularity of and strong interest in CIH, EJPT is featuring research on these approaches in this special issue. The papers range from common interventions such as mindfulness to the use of service dogs and scuba diving to alleviate trauma related symptoms. A featured editorial highlights the importance of defining when, where, and how placebo responses work. Nonspecific elements of treatment such as positive expectations, therapeutic rituals, healing symbols, and social interactions are identified as factors influencing treatment response and scientists looking to add to the CIH evidence base are encouraged to consider the impact and methodological challenges these elements present. CIH interventions more specifically recognize and harness some of these factors in addition to intervention-specific factors such as attention or emotion regulation along with focus on overall wellbeing. The body of work in this special issue supports the emerging evidence for meditative and relaxation-based interventions and illustrates a creative but nascent state of the field. Cross-intervention mechanisms that may play a role in achieving wellness, such as arousal reduction, emotion regulation, posttraumatic growth, and positive affect are highlighted. The trauma field would benefit from accumulation of evidence for promising CIH interventions, evaluation of potential mechanisms, and examination of health and wellbeing outcomes. With the paucity of high-quality trials, it would be premature to recommend CIH interventions as first-line treatments. However, the emerging literature on CIH continues to advance our understanding of what works and how these interventions exert their effects.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2247888traumaptsdinterventionscomplementaryalternativeintegrativemeditationmind–bodyservice animalsmechanisms of action |
| spellingShingle | Barbara Niles Ariel Lang Miranda Olff Complementary and integrative interventions for PTSD European Journal of Psychotraumatology trauma ptsd interventions complementary alternative integrative meditation mind–body service animals mechanisms of action |
| title | Complementary and integrative interventions for PTSD |
| title_full | Complementary and integrative interventions for PTSD |
| title_fullStr | Complementary and integrative interventions for PTSD |
| title_full_unstemmed | Complementary and integrative interventions for PTSD |
| title_short | Complementary and integrative interventions for PTSD |
| title_sort | complementary and integrative interventions for ptsd |
| topic | trauma ptsd interventions complementary alternative integrative meditation mind–body service animals mechanisms of action |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2247888 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT barbaraniles complementaryandintegrativeinterventionsforptsd AT ariellang complementaryandintegrativeinterventionsforptsd AT mirandaolff complementaryandintegrativeinterventionsforptsd |