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Study finds decrease in African refugees' PTSD: Transcendental Meditation equally effective for men and women
by Global Good News staff writer

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27 April 2013

'With Transcendental Meditation we can deal with the effect of traumatic stress without having to relive the stress,' said Dr Fred Travis, '—without having to go through the past horrors that you have experienced.'

Dr Travis is one of a team of scientists who recently completed a study on the effect of Transcendental Meditation (TM) on Congolese refugees who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Another scientist on the team described the study as a 'random assignment matched single-blind study on the efficacy of Transcendental Meditation at reducing the symptoms of post-traumatic stress in Congolese refugees'.

She explained that while the control group's levels of PTSD stayed about the same or increased slightly, the Transcendental Meditation group's PCLC (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Civilians) scores decreased by an average of 36 points to become symptom free.

'This is a larger improvement than that reported for other interventions.' In addition, treatment with the meditation technique seemed equally potent no matter the circumstance. 'We found that Transcendental Meditation is equally effective for men and women. Nothing else was provided the TM group except the standard practice of Transcendental Meditation. They still lived with their families—large families in overcrowded conditions, lacking food and other facilities.'

In addition to scientifically measurable outcomes, there were other changes in the meditating group. '[They] started working together on projects to improve their English, create more income, and care for the children.'

How does Transcendental Meditation decrease the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder without forcing the individual to relive the past?

Dr Travis explained. '[The experience of transcending] turns off the negative effect of traumatic stress and allows the person to begin to live life. This is such a profound tool now to help the individuals in Africa.'

Click here to learn more about the African PTSD Relief Project.

See related articles:
∙ Transcendental Meditation significantly reduces posttraumatic stress in African refugees
∙ Africa: Transcendental Meditation helps treat war victims suffering from PTSD
∙ Congolese refugees in Uganda catalyst for African PTSD Relief Project
∙ Africa: Transcendental Meditation helps Congolese refugees with PTSD become asymptomatic
∙ 'I'm free': African refugee shares her experience with Transcendental Meditation
∙ African PTSD Relief Project aims to help thousands of refugees with Transcendental Meditation

Copyright © 2013 Global Good News Service

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