Mindfulness intervention for child abuse survivors: a 2.5-year follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
The present study reports on the long-term effects of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.


METHODS
Of the study participants, 73% returned to the clinic for a single-session follow-up assessment of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and mindfulness at 2.5 years.


RESULTS
Repeated measures mixed regression analyses revealed significant long-term improvements in depression, PTSD, anxiety symptoms, and mindfulness scores. The magnitude of intervention effects at 128 weeks ranged from d = .5 to d = 1.1.


CONCLUSIONS
MBSR may be an effective long-term treatment for adults who have experienced childhood sexual abuse. Further investigation of MBSR with this population is warranted given the durability of treatment effects described here.
Center for Integrative Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Michael D
MD
Earley
Margaret A
MA
Chesney
Joyce
J
Frye
Preston A
PA
Greene
Brian
B
Berman
Elizabeth
E
Kimbrough
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D001364:Awareness / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000628:therapy*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D064866:Mindfulness / Q000379:methods*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
child abuse; long-term follow-up; meditation; mindfulness intervention; posttraumatic stress disorder; sexual abuse