Measuring Our Impact – A Summary of Publications and Research on the Clinical Interventions and Training of The Center for Mind-Body Medicine

Research Overview

Peer-reviewed articles in leading scientific journals document the effectiveness of The Center for Mind-Body Medicine's model with children, adolescents, and adults who have experienced trauma. CMBM published the first randomized controlled trial of any intervention with children who experienced war trauma. In this study, and in subsequent studies, CMBM's group modelconsistently reduced the percentage of children and adults diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by 80% or more, with the results sustained in follow-ups at 3 and 10 months. Adolescents with clinical depression experienced significantly less depression and suicidal thoughts after the mind-body skills program. Published studies also demonstrate a significant statistical reduction in depression, hopelessness, anxiety, anger, and sleep disturbances, and an increase in mindfulness, self-efficacy, and quality of life.

In CMBM’s training program, healthcare and social service providers, educators, humanitarian workers, clergy, and community leaders first experience this small group model themselves, and then learn to implement the approach as an integral part of the work they do in the institutions, communities, and programs in which they work. Published research documents the efficacy of CMBM’s training program with healthcare providers and medical students. These studies show statistically significant decreases in burnout, secondary traumatic stress, anxiety, perceived stress, and personal distress as well as improvement in empathic concern. In one study, medical students in a Mind-Body Skills Group did not have the same exam-time increases in stress hormones as a comparison group.