Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in postwar Kosovo high school students using mind-body skills groups: a pilot study.
This preliminary study examined whether the practice of mind-body techniques decreases symptoms of posttraumatic stress in adolescents. Posttraumatic Stress Reaction Index questionnaires were collected from 139 high school students in Kosovo who participated in a 6-week program that included meditation, biofeedback, drawings, autogenic training, guided imagery, genograms, movement, and breathing techniques. Three separate programs were held approximately 2 months apart. There was no control group. Posttraumatic stress scores significantly decreased after participation in the programs. These scores remained decreased in the 2 groups that participated in the follow-up study when compared to pretest measures. These data indicate that mind-body skills groups were effective in reducing posttraumatic stress symptoms in war-traumatized high school students.
Gordon
James S
JS
Center for Mind-Body Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia 20015, USA. jgordon@cmbm.org
Staples
Julie K
JK
Blyta
Afrim
A
Bytyqi
Murat
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013333:Student Health Services; D014857:Warfare; D015022:Yugoslavia