PTSD symptoms, substance use, and vipassana meditation among incarcerated individuals

• Published in: Journal of traumatic stress Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 239 - 249
• Main Authors: Simpson, T. L., Kaysen, D., Bowen, S., MacPherson, L. M., Chawla, N., Blume, A., Marlatt, G. A., Larimer, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germantown Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01-06-2007; Wiley
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Alcoholism - diagnosis; Alcoholism - psychology; Alcoholism - rehabilitation; Anxiety disorders. Neuroses; Biological and medical sciences; Comorbidity; Drug addiction; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Meditation; Middle Aged; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Prisoners - psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Recurrence; Rehabilitation Centers; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - rehabilitation; Substance-Related Disorders - diagnosis; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; Substance-Related Disorders - rehabilitation; Symptomatology; Drug addiction; Carceral environment; Posttraumatic syndrome; Meditation; Anxiety disorder; Substance abuse; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Stress
• ISSN: 0894-9867; 1573-6598
• DOI: 10.1002/jts.20209

The present study evaluated whether Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptom severity was associated with participation and treatment outcomes comparing a Vipassana meditation course to treatment as usual in an incarcerated sample. This study utilizes secondary data. The original study demonstrated that Vipassana meditation is associated with reductions in substance use. The present study found that PTSD symptom severity did not differ significantly between those who did and did not volunteer to take the course. Participation in the Vipassana course was associated with significantly greater reductions in substance use than treatment as usual, regardless of PTSD symptom severity levels. These results suggest that Vipassana meditation is worthy of further study for those with comorbid PTSD and substance use problems.