Mindfulness and Meditation in the Conceptualization and Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

Indeed, mindfulness- and meditation-based interventions have significant clinical implications for ultimately functioning as either stand-alone or adjunctive interventions for PTSD. Furthermore, enhancing mindfulness or meditation skills may be a successful avenue for primary or secondary prevention of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for populations with a high probability of exposure to intense or chronic potentially traumatizing events (PTEs), such as police or military personnel. Offering mindfulness skill-building or meditation-based interventions to such populations in advance of their service—or shortly following exposure to PTE if PTSD symptoms are emergent—might serve to preclude the development of PTSD in a significant proportion of cases. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)