A 12-week integrative exercise program improves self-reported mindfulness and interoceptive awareness in war veterans with posttraumatic stress symptoms.


Author: Mehling WE1,2, Chesney MA1,2, Metzler TJ1,2, Goldstein LA1,2, Maguen S1,2, Geronimo C2, Agcaoili G2, Barnes DE1,2, Hlavin JA2, Neylan TC1,2

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>University of California, San Francisco, USA.

<sup>2</sup>San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Conference/Journal: J Clin Psychol.
Date published: 2017 Oct 27
Other:
  Special Notes: doi: 10.1002/jclp.22549. [Epub ahead of print]   ,  Word Count: 164  
    OBJECTIVE: Innovative approaches to the treatment of war-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are needed. We report on secondary psychological outcomes of a randomized controlled trial of integrative exercise (IE) using aerobic and resistance exercise with mindfulness-based principles and yoga. We expected-in parallel to observed improvements in PTSD intensity and quality of life-improvements in mindfulness, interoceptive bodily awareness, and positive states of mind.



METHOD: A total of 47 war veterans with PTSD were randomized to 12-week IE versus waitlist. Changes in mindfulness, interoceptive awareness, and states of mind were assessed by self-report standard measures.



RESULTS: Large effect sizes for the intervention were observed on Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire Non-Reactivity (d = .85), Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness Body Listening (d = .80), and Self-Regulation (d = 1.05).



CONCLUSION: In a randomized controlled trial of a 12-week IE program for war veterans with PTSD, we saw significant improvements in mindfulness, interoceptive bodily awareness, and positive states of mind compared to a waitlist.



© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.



KEYWORDS: PTSD; exercise; interoception; mindfulness; veterans



PMID: 29076530  DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22549