Background: In recent years, mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have experienced exponential growth in terms of development, application, and research. However, few studies have examined implementation and efficacy of these interventions in particular populations, such as military Veterans. Such studies are needed as one cannot assume that the literature on MBIs implemented with the general population or other specific populations apply equally well to Veterans. This population is unique regarding professional competencies, military ethos, high degrees of medical comorbidities and barriers to treatment. The aim of this work was to review and summarize the literature over the previous five years (2014-2020) assessing the use of MBIs among military Veterans to guide clinical care and future research.
Methods: Systematic literature review.
Results: A total of 88 articles were found. Screening titles and abstracts resulted in 49 articles being excluded. The remaining 39 articles were read in full, and of these, 12 were excluded due to not fully meeting the inclusion criteria. Thus, the present review included a total of 27 articles, 3 of which used qualitative methods and 24 of which used quantitative methods.
Conclusions: MBIs hold promise as complementary adjunctive interventions for Veterans with PTSD and possibly other psychiatric disorders. Currently there are significant gaps in the literature that must be addressed to move the field forward. The main deficiency is, with a few exceptions, the lack of rigorous RCTs. Another major concern is the lack of generalizability to female and non-white Veterans given that the subject samples across all studies reviewed were 85% male and 76% white. At this time, MBSR, PCBMT and MBCT can be recommended as adjunctive complementary interventions for the reduction of PTSD symptoms. Research recommendations to move the field forward are provided.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101274 | DOI Listing |
Mil Psychol
January 2025
Centro de Investigação e Estudos de Sociologia, Department of Political and Public Politicty (CIES-Iscte), Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Military veterans who became disabled due to conflict-related trauma face various challenges in finding and maintaining employment in civilian life. This study aims to understand the transition processes of disabled veterans in Turkey into civilian employment, as well as their experiences in maintaining and sustaining employment during this process. A qualitative research design was used in the study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCan J Nurs Res
January 2025
Research and Development, VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, Las Vegas, NV, USA.
Background: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a substantial problem for Veterans and active members of armed forces across the globe, resulting in debilitating mental and physical comorbidities. Evidence-based treatments have demonstrated some success; however, many Veterans remain symptomatic mandating the urgent need for innovative treatment strategies.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of military Veterans with PTSD symptoms who participated in a therapeutic warm water immersion intervention aimed at reducing their symptoms.
Drugs Aging
January 2025
Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Background: Untreated low back pain (LBP) in older adults can lead to disability and development of chronicity. Due to the potential development of medical comorbidities and negative risks associated with pharmacological use, chronic LBP management for older adults requires a responsive approach.
Methods: The objective of this study is to evaluate the probability of (1) opioid prescription receipt and (2) opioid-sedative coprescription, in a sample of military-service-connected patients enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) or TRICARE, ages 30-85 years, receiving care in three systems: VHA, Military Health System (MHS), and nonfederal (civilian) healthcare facilities.
Psychol Psychother
January 2025
The Louis & Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
Purpose: Despite the proliferation of research into evidence based treatment for military PTSD there is little evidence for treatment assignment criterion and military based PTSD still demonstrates low remission rates.
Method: Thirty participants in a randomized control trial comparing Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Somatic Experiencing (SE) were interviewed on their experiences in therapy and their responses assessed using a descriptive phenomenological analysis approach to delineate the central tenets of the two therapeutic approaches.
Results: Results indicated that participants from both therapies covered themes of the experience of change, the experience of the therapeutic relationship and the therapeutic process.
Violence Vict
January 2025
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare SystemAnn Arbor, MI, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Military sexual trauma (MST) refers to sexual assault or harassment experienced during military service. Given the high prevalence of MST and negative mental and physical health outcomes that result from MST, Veterans Health Administration has identified a national priority for screening and treatment. An understanding of socioecological contexts of Veterans who seek mental health treatment to address difficulties following MST will support a holistic approach to care.
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