Changes in facets of mindfulness and posttraumatic stress disorder treatment outcome

Psychiatry Res. 2012 Dec 30;200(2-3):609-13. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2012.07.011. Epub 2012 Aug 1.

Abstract

Though there has been a recent surge of interest in the relations between facets of mindfulness and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), there has been a dearth of empirical studies investigating the impact of changes in facets of mindfulness on PTSD treatment outcomes. The present study tested the prospective associations between pre- to post-treatment changes in facets of mindfulness and PTSD and depression severity at treatment discharge, among 48 military Veterans in residential PTSD treatment adhering to a cognitive-behavioral framework. Together, changes in facets of mindfulness significantly explained post-treatment PTSD and depression severity (19-24% of variance). Changes in acting with awareness explained unique variance in post-treatment PTSD severity and changes in nonjudgmental acceptance explained unique variance in post-treatment depression severity. These results remained significant after adjusting for shared variance with length of treatment stay.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Awareness*
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Residential Treatment
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Veterans / psychology