A Review on the Role of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
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https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15774245Keywords:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Trauma, MBSR, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, MindfulnessAbstract
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a persistent psychopathology marked by re-experiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal following exposure to trauma. The eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program which integrates mindfulness meditation and body-awareness exercises has been advanced as an adjunctive strategy for mitigating PTSD symptoms. In the present review, full-text clinical trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, narrative reviews, monographs, and dissertations were retrieved from Google Scholar using both Turkish and English search terms, then appraised against explicit inclusion criteria. Such comprehensive syntheses aim to collate and critically evaluate the extant scientific literature on the topic. The principal objective was to holistically assess evidence concerning the therapeutic utility of MBSR for individuals diagnosed with PTSD and to outline clinical implications. Findings from randomized controlled trials indicate that participation in MBSR yields moderate decreases in overall PTSD symptomatology, along with ancillary gains in depressive symptoms and self-regulation capacities; these benefits generally persist at four- to six-month follow-up assessments. Collectively, the data support MBSR as a valuable complementary modality in PTSD care, while underscoring the necessity for future long-term, controlled investigations across varied age, gender, and cultural populations.
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