Complementary and integrative interventions for PTSD

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Psychology
• Complementary Medicine

Background:

• Trauma-focused psychotherapy is the primary treatment for trauma's impact.
• Millions seek Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) therapies for holistic wellness.
• This special issue explores the evidence and potential of CIH interventions for trauma.

Discussion:

• CIH interventions, including mindfulness, service dogs, and scuba diving, are examined for trauma symptom alleviation.
• Placebo responses and nonspecific treatment elements (expectations, rituals, social interactions) significantly influence outcomes.
• CIH approaches harness nonspecific factors alongside specific mechanisms like emotion regulation for enhanced wellbeing.

Key Insights:

• Emerging evidence supports meditative and relaxation-based CIH interventions.
• Cross-intervention mechanisms like arousal reduction, emotion regulation, and positive affect contribute to trauma recovery.
• CIH interventions uniquely focus on overall health and wellbeing.

Outlook:

• Further high-quality trials are needed to build the CIH evidence base for trauma.
• Evaluating potential mechanisms and health/wellbeing outcomes is crucial for CIH research.
• While not yet first-line, CIH therapies advance understanding of trauma treatment effectiveness.