1

Stress, Anxiety, and PTSDStress, Anxiety, and PTSD

Research and Applicable of the Transcendental Meditation Program

Stress-Free Schools Program Transcendental Meditation technique

703 823-6933

2

Chronic Stress and Children

� Early experiences of stress set responsiveness of HPA axis

� Children exposed to chronic stress become conditioned to higher levels of adrenaline

� As adults they can become “hot reactors”

3

The TM

technique

takes the mind from

its active

conscious

awareness

to its deep source in pure

consciousness

Thought starts

from pure

consciousness

and developsinto conscious

awareness

4

Physiological Indicators

of Deep Rest During TM

American Psychologist 42: 879-881, 1987

Ch

an

ge f

rom

Befo

re

Pra

cti

ce t

o D

uri

ng

Pra

cti

ce

(sta

nd

ard

devia

tio

ns)

0

9

-5

5

Basal Skin

Resistance

Respiration

Rate

Plasma

Lactate

TM

TM

TMEyes Closed Rest

Eyes Closed Rest

Eyes Closed Rest

5

Decreased Stress HormonePlasma Cortisol

Before During After

Pl asma Cortisol

(mcg/dl)

3.0

6.0

5.0

4.5

5.5

4.0

3.5 TM

Hormones and Behavior 10: 54–60, 1978. Psychoneuroendocrinology.

1997;22(4):277-295

6

Biochemical Mechanisms of Transcendental Meditation

Reduced Stress

Reduced Cortisol

TM

Increased

Serotonin Availability

More Optimum

Homeostasis

7

8

Effectiveness in Reducing Trait AnxietyMeta-Analysis

TM

Placebo

Relaxation Response

0 1.05

Concentration

Other Relaxation

Other Meditation

PMR

EMG-Biofeedback

Mantra Meditation

Journal of Clinical Psychology. 1989; 45:957-974

9

Effectiveness in Reducing BPMeta-Analysis

TM

Other

Meditation

Relaxation

Response

0 155Mm Hg

10

Bio-

feedback

All others

-5

Systolic BP

Diastolic BP

American Journal of Health Promotion. 1998:(5)297-298

10

Effects of TM on Blood Pressure and Acute Stress in Adolescents

Car driving simulation

Systo

lic B

loo

d P

ressu

re

(mm

Hg

)

-4

0

4

TM

Controls

Systo

lic B

loo

d P

ressu

re

(mm

Hg

)

Social stressor interview

0

-8

TM

Controls

Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 2001;51:597-605

11

Improved Psychological OutcomesMeta-Analysis

TM

Zen

Relaxation

Response

0 1.05

American Journal of Health Promotion. 1998:(5)297-298

12

Meta-Analysis of

Reduced Alcohol Abuse

EFFECT SIZE

(standard deviation

units)

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

TM

(N=14)

RelaxationPrograms

(N=11)

PreventivePrograms

CounteractingPeer Influence

(N=13)

(N=20)

DrivingUnder theInfluencePrograms

(N=39)

(N=number of treatment groups)

Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11: 13–87, 1994.

OtherPreventiveEducationPrograms

13

Meta-Analysis of Reduced Cigarette Use

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

TMPreventiveEducationPrograms

Pharma-cologicalTreatment

SmokingCessation

Counseling

PrintedSelf-helpMaterials

Uncon-ventional

Treatments

Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11: 13–87, 1994.

14

ADHD Results After 3 MonthsADHD Results After 3 MonthsStudent Report

Anxious/Depressed* 53%

Somatic Complaints* 34%

Internalize Prob.* 36%

Attention Prob.* 26%

Affective Prob. 29%

Anxiety* 50%

Total Problems 24%Total Problems 24%

*Statistically significant

15

ADHD Results After 3 MonthsADHD Results After 3 Months

Cognitive AssessmentCognitive Assessment

Expressive Attention*

19%19%

Executive Planning and

Problem Solving*

13%13%

16

Behavior InventoryBehavior Inventory

Improvements In:Improvements In:

Behavior Regulation

Emotional Control

Global Executive Functioning

Inhibiting

Initiating

Memory

Organization

17

Other Groups

T M

0

5

10

15

20p < .00001

0

6

Childbirth Intestinal Nose,

Throat,

Lung

Heart Genital &

Urinary

Injuries Tumors Bones &

Muscle

Ill-Defined

Condition

All Mental

Disorders

Nervous

System

Metabolism Infectious

Diseases

Other Medical

Carveout

Skin Congenital Blood

Ad

mis

sio

ns

/100

0 M

em

bers

Decreased Hospital Admissions Rate in All Categories of Disease

Psychosomatic Medicine. 1987; 49:493-507

18

Core Symptom Clusters of PTSD

Core Symptoms

• Re-experiencing• Recurrent and intrusive

recollections

• Recurrent dreams

• Reliving the event

• Intense distress and reactivity at exposure to cues

• Avoidance

• Numbing

Other Symptoms

• Insomnia

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Substance abuse

• Interpersonal problems

19

Decreased Symptoms of

Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome

0

1

-1

-2

-3

-4

p < .025

ReducedDepression

ReducedAlcoholProblem

p < .005

ReducedInsomnia

p < .001

Psychotherapy

Transcendental Meditation

TM TM TM

ReducedAlcoholProblem

ReducedInsomnia

ReducedDepression

Eff

ec

t S

ize

Journal of Counseling and Development. 1985:(64);212-215

20

Practice of Transcendental Meditation

• EffortlessEasy for people of all ages

• UniversalNo belief or philosophy involved

• Standard instructionTaught by specially trained, registered teachers

• Lifetime followup No additional cost

• Scientific validation Over 600 research studies

• Unique style of rest Not seen in other relaxation techniques