Mindfulness meditation to enable attenuation on imagined exposure in PTSD - A single case study

Mindfulness mediation (based on Buddhist meditative techniques) has previously been advocated for depression relapse prevention and chronic pain reduction in former research trials (Teasdale; Kabat-zinn, etc.). Because the practice of mindfulness relates to body scans and focusing attention upon the body, it has been advised that it may cause problems in using such a method for sexual abuse and rape survivors, although no research appears to have been carried out in this area. In a single case study of child-sexual-abuse adult survivor who frequently dissociated and experienced “flashbacks” during clinical sessions, the methods of Mindfulness Mediation were introduced to her, in an attempt to keep an awareness of her surroundings whilst doing imagined exposure in for PDSD (post duress stress disorder). From dissociative phases, flashbacks and cognitive avoidance of stimuli, the client became able to focus on the traumatic information being presented and to emotionally relate and process trauma memories, which previously she had been unable to do. Her ability to attenuate upon traumatic information was increased, habituation was easier from a clinical perspective, her anxiety levels decreased (BAI) and her depression levels eased (BDI). (N.B. The client’s improved anxiety and depression scores may have been due to Mindfulness Mediation practices or to the processing of highly emotive information).

Conclusion: Mindfulness Meditation can be a useful adjunct to trauma processing when imagined exposure is being implemented for PTSD/PDSD for processing of un-integrated traumatic information, where dissociation, cognitive avoidance or flashbacks occur within the context of treatment, creating a barrier to habituation from traumatic information. [Two statistical charts which accompanied this abstract in the Conference Program entry have not been included here.]

Conference

English

Susan Darker-Smith

Darker-Smith, S. (2007, June). Mindfulness
meditation to enable attenuation on imagined exposure in PTSD - A single case study. Poster presented at the 8th EMDR Europe Association Conference, Paris, France