Positive Health Online

Abstract

NIDICH and COLLEAGUES, 1. Professor and Director of the Center for Social and Emotional Health at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, IA. snidich@mum.edu; 2. Affiliated Research Associate at the Center for Social and Emotional Health at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, IA. seng.angelak@gmail.com 3. Affiliated Research Associate at the Center for Social and Emotional Health at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, IA. blazecompton@gmail.com ; 4. Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Western Oregon University in Monmouth. oconnortom@aol.com ; 5. Assistant Director of the Center for Natural Medicine and Prevention at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, IA. jsalerno@mum.edu ; 6. Senior Researcher at the Center for Social and Emotional Health at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, IA. rnidich@mum.edu conducted a randomized controlled pilot study to evaluate the effects of Transcendental Meditation (TM) on trauma symptoms in female offenders.

Background

Context: Compared with the general population, trauma experiences are higher among incarcerated women;

Methodology

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Transcendental Meditation (TM) on trauma symptoms in female offenders. Design: Twenty-two inmates at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, OR, with at least 4 months left of incarceration were enrolled in this randomized controlled pilot study. Subjects were randomly assigned to either the TM group (n = 11) or a wait-list control group (n = 11); Main Outcome Measures: Subjects were measured at baseline and 4-month post-test using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian version (PCL-C; primary outcome) with intrusive thoughts, avoidance, and hyperarousal subscales (secondary outcomes). Twenty of the subjects (10 in each group) took part in their treatment assignment and completed post-testing.

Results

Significant reductions were found on total trauma (p < 0.036), intrusive thoughts (p < 0.026), and hyperarousal (p < 0.043) on the PCL-C. Effect sizes ranged from 0.65 to 0.99 for all variables. Eighty-one percent of the TM subjects were compliant with their program.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate feasibility of the TM program in a female prison population and suggest that TM may be an effective tool for decreasing trauma symptoms. Future large-scale research is warranted.

References

Nidich S1, Seng A2, Compton B3, O'connor T4, Salerno JW5, Nidich R6. Transcendental Meditation and Reduced Trauma Symptoms in Female Inmates: A Randomized Controlled Study. Perm J. 21. 2017.  doi: 10.7812/TPP/16-008. Epub Jan 17 2017.