title: Mindfulness intervention for child abuse survivors.
abstract: Twenty-seven adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse participated in a pilot study comprising an 8-week mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction (MBSR) program and daily home practice of mindfulness skills. Three refresher classes were provided through final follow-up at 24 weeks. Assessments of depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and mindfulness, were conducted at baseline, 4, 8, and 24 weeks. At 8 weeks, depressive symptoms were reduced by 65%. Statistically significant improvements were observed in all outcomes post-MBSR, with effect sizes above 1.0. Improvements were largely sustained until 24 weeks. Of three PTSD symptom criteria, symptoms of avoidance/numbing were most greatly reduced. Compliance to class attendance and home practice was high, with the intervention proving safe and acceptable to participants. These results warrant further investigation of the MBSR approach in a randomized, controlled trial in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrative Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Kernan Hospital Mansion, 2200 Kernan Drive, Baltimore, MD 21207-6665, USA. ekimbrough@compmed.umm.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kimbrough
authors.forename: Trish
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Magyari
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Langenberg
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chesney
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Berman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome