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
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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
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