Full Title
Breathwork Intervention for Individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Background
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects approximately 13 million adults across the U.S. PTSD is more prevalent among military veterans, especially those who have been on active duty. Because the symptoms associated with PTSD can seriously diminish a person’s quality of life, effective, accessible treatments for PTSD are necessary. Current treatments for PTSD, such as prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, are moderately effective in treating PTSD symptoms but are also time-consuming and inaccessible for many. Breathwork could offer an accessible, easily scalable way of treating PTSD symptoms. The Breathwork Intervention for PTSD Project considers whether a 2-hour breathwork session can provide both immediate and short-term improvements in PTSD symptoms and PTSD-related outcomes.
Aims
- Evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a 2-hour breathwork training for adults with PTSD.
- Evaluate the effects of a 2-hour breathwork training on PTSD symptoms and PTSD-related outcomes for adults with PTSD in the 6 weeks following the training.
- Investigate whether the efficacy of breathwork training is moderated by therapeutic mechanisms, such as self-transcendence.
Partnerships
Publications
This work is ongoing.