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A Prospective Investigation of Mindfulness Skills and Changes in Emotion Regulation Among Military Veterans in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Treatment

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Abstract

We prospectively investigated associations between mindfulness and changes in the use of expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal occurring during a residential treatment program for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The sample consisted of 50 male veterans who were assessed with the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills at treatment intake, and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and PTSD Checklist—Military Version at treatment intake and discharge. Hierarchical multiple regressions indicated that greater nonjudgmental acceptance at intake predicted greater reductions in expressive suppression (p < .05) and less improvement in cognitive reappraisal (p < .05) between treatment intake and discharge. Additionally, greater ability to observe thoughts, emotions, and sensations at intake was associated with less improvement in cognitive reappraisal between treatment intake and discharge (p < .05). Findings remained significant after statistically adjusting for treatment-related changes in PTSD symptoms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium/VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA

    Cecily A. S. Reber

  2. Center for Health Care Evaluation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Rd. (152-MPD), Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA

    Matthew Tyler Boden

  3. National Center for PTSD/Center for Health Care Evaluation, VA Palo Alto Health Care, Menlo Park, CA/Center of Excellence in Substance Abuse Treatment and Education, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Marcel O. Bonn-Miller

  4. VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA

    Neha Mitragotri & Jennifer Alvarez

  5. Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

    James J. Gross

Authors
  1. Cecily A. S. Reber
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  2. Matthew Tyler Boden
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  3. Neha Mitragotri
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  4. Jennifer Alvarez
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  5. James J. Gross
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  6. Marcel O. Bonn-Miller
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthew Tyler Boden.

Additional information

This work was supported by a Veterans Affairs Clinical Science Research and Development (CSR&D) Career Development Award—2, and California HIV/AIDS Research Program IDEA Award (163836), granted to Dr. Bonn-Miller. The expressed views do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Reber, C.A.S., Boden, M.T., Mitragotri, N. et al. A Prospective Investigation of Mindfulness Skills and Changes in Emotion Regulation Among Military Veterans in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Treatment. Mindfulness 4, 311–317 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-012-0131-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-012-0131-4

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