The Center is committed to the scientific evaluation of all its programs, and to sharing our groundbreaking research with the widest possible audience. Below are published articles and summaries of ongoing research and studies we are preparing for publication.

CMBM Published Research

Mind-Body Medicine Professional Training Program in United States

Staples, Julie K. & Gordon, James S. "Effectiveness of a Mind-Body Skills Training Program for Healthcare Professionals." Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 2004, 11(4): 36-41.
(Posted with permission from the publisher)

PTSD Study with Kosovar High School Students

Gordon, James S., Julie K. Staples, Afrim Blyta, and Murat Bytyqi. “Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Postwar Kosovo High School Students Using Mind-Body Skills Groups: A Pilot Study.” Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2004, 17: 143-147.
(Posted with permission from the publisher)

Gordon, James S. Staples Julie K, Blyta Afrim, Bytyqi Murat, Wilson Amy T. Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Postwar Kosovar Adolescents Using Mind-Body S kills Groups: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 2008
[Abstract] [PDF] Posted 8/12/08
Summary: Students in the intervention group had significantly lower PTSD scores following participation in a 12-session mind-body skills group program than those in the control group. PTSD scores remained significantly decreased at 3 month follow-up.

CancerGuides® Professional Training

Staples, J.K, Wilson, A.T. Pierce, B., Gordon, J.S. “Effectiveness of CancerGuides®: A Study of an Integrative Cancer Care Training Program for Health Professionals.” Integrative Cancer Therapies, 2004, 6(1): 14-24.
(Pre-publication version posted with permission from the publisher)

A reprint of this article may be obtained from The Center for Mind-Body Medicine or an electronic download may be purchased at the publishers website: http://ict.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/6/1/14

Research In Progress

Mind-Body Skills Groups Reduce PTSD Symptoms, Depression, and Hopelessness in Children in Gaza

Data was gathered on 498 children who participated in Mind-Body Skills Groups taught by CMBM trained health professionals in Gaza. Their ages ranged from 8 to19 years with most being 11-15 years. As expected, trauma exposure was very high. 60% of the children had their neighborhood invaded; 78% had seen shootings in their neighborhood; 23% had been imprisoned in their house by occupational forces; 40% had seen friends killed; 62% had seen strangers killed;  and 26% had family members or relatives killed in 2006.

Following participation in the 10-week program, there was a 54% decrease in the number of children with symptoms indicating the presence of PTSD. There was also a significant decrease in the cluster symptoms of re-experiencing, avoidance, and arousal (i.e. difficulty sleeping and concentrating, outbursts of anger, exaggerated startle response, hyper-vigilance). Depression scores were significantly decreased and significant improvement was measured in the subscales of negative mood, ineffectiveness, anhedonia (i.e. impaired ability to experience pleasure, loss of energy, problems with sleep and appetite, and a sense of isolation), and negative self-esteem. Finally, there was a statistically significant decrease in hopelessness following participation in the mind-body skills groups indicating that the children felt more hopeful about their future and their lives .

 

Mind-Body Medicine Professional Training in Kosovo

Following the last in a series of training programs, healthcare professionals were integrating mind-body modalities into their work and were also using them personally. Professionally the use of modalities was as follows: 98% meditation; 91% drawings; 89% exercise; 75% genograms; 64% biofeedback; 45% imagery; and 78% had led a mind-body skills group. All of the participants reported using meditation personally. They also had significant improvement in anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, anxiety, and vigor and an enhanced sense of life purpose and satisfaction following the initial trainings.

Mind-Body Medicine Professional Training in Gaza

Participants had significant improvement in anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, anxiety, and vigor after the initial training. They also had significant improvement in all of the spirituality subscales including an enhanced sense of purpose and meaning in life, of wholeness, empowerment, and feelings of connectedness and transcendence. After practicing the skills in the six months between the first and second training programs, participants reported that the skills helped them reduce stress, cope with trauma, solve problems, improve health conditions, and improve personal interactions.

 

Mind-Body Medicine Professional Training in Israel

Following the initial training, participants had significant improvement in work satisfaction, burnout, and secondary trauma. They also had more hope and an improvement in their sense mastering problems. They were significantly more optimistic about their personal future and the future of Israel and significantly more confident in providing support in an emergency.

Julie K. Staples, Ph.D.
Research Director