(NCCOSC) has reviewed a variety of common and less common CAM treatments available to veterans. They include: Acupuncture. This ancient ap-
proach relieves illness via the stra- tegic insertion of needles into the body to unblock metaphysical energy, known as qi (pronounced “chee”). NCCOSC’s review references a 2007 controlled pilot trial in which 73 people diagnosed with post-traumatic stress randomly were assigned cogni- tive behavioral therapy, acupuncture treatment, or a wait-list control con- dition. At the end of the treatment period, those who received cognitive behavior therapy and acupuncture reported a similar reduction in symp- toms. Schnurr acknowledges evi- dence that suggests acupuncture can be effective but adds it is not at the level where acupuncture can be rec- ommended as a frontline treatment. Art therapy. Conceived in the
1970s, this approach encourages those with post-traumatic stress to use drawing as a way to express details about their trauma and gain mastery over their feelings. One study examined 15 treatment components and found art therapy
produced the greatest benefit for veterans with the most severe post- traumatic stress symptoms. Meditation. This refers to a va- riety of practices used to induce relaxation or alter consciousness, many of which have been practiced for thousands of years. A 1981 study of Vietnam veterans diagnosed with “post-Vietnam adjustment” (now known as post-traumatic stress) found transcendental meditation more helpful than traditional sup- portive psychotherapy. (For tips on beginning a meditation practice, read “Unleash Your Inner Zen — 7 Ways to Begin a Meditation Prac- tice” at
www.moaa.org/wellness.) Power therapies. This ap-
proach includes additional tech- niques, such as EMDR or tapping acupuncture points, with tradition- al talk therapy.
Calming activities such as yoga and meditation have been used to treat post-traumatic stress symp- toms for years, and researchers continue to investigate their ef- fectiveness. In 2014, sudarshan kriya yoga was the subject of a study at the Center for Investigat- ing Healthy Minds at the Waisman
CAM Use on the Rise
Individuals with post-traumatic stress are encouraged to try established traditional approaches as first-line treatment. However, the use of com- plementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for post-traumatic stress is on the rise, reports the VA: A study of veterans found those with post-traumatic stress were 25 percent more likely than veterans without post-traumatic stress to re- port CAM use, in particular, biofeedback and relaxation. Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication study in- dicated 12.6 percent of individuals with post-traumatic stress accessed provider-administered CAM in the past year. This is likely an underesti- mate because measurement of CAM excluded self-administered thera- pies such as relaxation techniques or herbal therapy. In a nationally representative sample of veterans with post-traumatic stress, 39 percent indicated they had used CAM in the previous year to address self-reported emotional and mental health issues.
Center of the University of Wiscon- sin-Madison. Twenty-one soldiers were divided into two groups: an active group of 11 and a control group of 10. Those who received training in yogic breathing dem- onstrated lower anxiety, reduced respiration rates, and fewer post- traumatic stress symptoms. A relatively new addition to CAM
are recreational programs that help alleviate the common symptoms of post-traumatic stress through activi- ties that encourage physical involve- ment and social interaction. Some programs are available through the VA, while others are run by nonprofit organizations. “Some VA medical centers and military bases have options for horseback riding and other more recreational types of interventions,” Schnurr notes. “I just heard of a program at Camp Pendleton [Calif.] that is using surf- ing as an intervention.”
Encouraged to share Soldiers and Families Embraced is among the growing number of or- ganizations providing recreational social activities to veterans with post-traumatic stress. “We have a horticultural therapy program, as well as a songwriting retreat in which people dealing with PTSD are paired with a songwriter from Nashville [Tenn.],” McCasland says. “Through the telling of the story and the sharing of emotions, they write a song around their experi- ence. That has been really power- ful. We also partner with an agency called Your Heart on Art, which offers therapeutic art counseling, and with Soldier’s Heart, a national organization that sponsors veteran healing retreats.” There’s even a program — Sol- diers Who Salsa — that uses dance as a way for veterans to deal with their post-traumatic stress. “Be- cause salsa [CONTINUES ON PAGE 110]
SEPTEMBER 2015 MILITARY OFFICER 59
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