Help for Veterans with PTSD

Our current featured article addresses one of the most pressing health problems for those who have served in military combat – post-traumatic stress disorder.  The article, titled “Efficacy of the Mantram Repetition Program for Insomnia in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Naturalistic Study” is authored by Danielle Beck, MPH, CCRC; Lindsay Cosco Holt, PhD, RN; Joseph Burkard, DNSc, CRNA; Taylor Andrews, BA; Lin Liu, PhD; Pia Heppner, PhD and Jill E. Bormann, PhD, RN, FAAN.  The article is available at no cost while it is featured!  The program described in this paper was recently designated as an “Edgerunner” by the American Academy of Nursing.

Dr. Borman shared this message about the article for ANS readers:

As nurses, we embrace a holistic perspective to patient care. In this study, we tested a mind-body-spiritual intervention, repeating a mantram (sacred word), to help manage symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Veterans. A “mantram” has been described as a “spiritual formula for transformation;” a self-selected, spiritually based word or phrase (sometimes called a Holy Name) that reflects all the major spiritual traditions of the world. For a more detailed description, see: The Power of the Mantram or learn about its origins from the Blue Mountain Center of Meditation.  Veterans found that this intervention promoted the relaxation response and reduced symptoms of PTSD and insomnia.

Authors of this paper collectively brought expertise from nursing, psychology, public health, and psychiatry. We wanted to capture the “real-world” experience of Veterans seeking care for their symptoms. Here is a brief video with examples and stories from veterans about their experiences:

Danielle Beck

Pia Heppner

Joe Burkard

Jill Bormann