Abstract

Sexual violence against women often leads to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental illness characterized by intrusive thoughts and memories about the traumatic event (Shors and Millon, 2016). These mental processes are obviously generated by the brain but often felt in the body. MAP Training My Brain™ is a novel clinical intervention that combines mental training of the brain with physical training of the body (Curlik and Shors, 2013; Shors et al., 2014). Each training session begins with 20-min of sitting meditation, followed by 10-min of slow-walking meditation, and ending with 30-min of aerobic exercise at 60–80% of the maximum heart rate (see maptrainmybrain.com). In previous studies, the combination of mental and physical (MAP) training together significantly reduced symptoms of depression and ruminative thoughts, while reducing anxiety (Shors et al., 2014, 2017; Alderman et al., 2016). We also documented positive changes in brain activity during cognitive control and whole-body oxygen consumption in various populations. In the present pilot study, we asked whether the combination of meditation and aerobic exercise during MAP Training would reduce trauma-related thoughts, ruminations, and memories in women and if so, whether the combination would be more effective than either activity alone. To test this hypothesis, interventions were provided to a group of women (n = 105), many of whom had a history of sexual violence (n = 32). Groups were trained with (1) MAP Training, (2) meditation alone, (3) aerobic exercise alone, or (4) not trained. Individuals in training groups completed two sessions a week for at least 6 weeks. MAP Training My Brain™ significantly reduced post-traumatic cognitions and ruminative thoughts in women with a history of sexual violence, whereas meditation alone, and exercise alone did not. MAP Training significantly enhanced a measure of self-worth, whereas meditation and exercise alone did not. Similar positive effects were observed for all participants, although meditation alone was also effective in reducing trauma-related thoughts. Overall, these data indicate the combination of meditation and exercise is synergistic. As a consequence, MAP Training is preferable and especially so for women who have experienced sexual violence in their past. Simply put, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Highlights

  • More than 25% of women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence (SV) in their lifetime, with similar estimates in the United States (Kessler, 2000; WHO, 2013; Kessler et al, 2017)

  • Despite the undeniable connection between sexual trauma and mental illness, few interventions are tailored for women who experience sexual violence

  • We present the clinical intervention of mental and physical (MAP) Training My BrainTM as an especially effective intervention for decreasing trauma-related thoughts in women in general and especially in women with SV history

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Summary

Introduction

More than 25% of women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence (SV) in their lifetime, with similar estimates in the United States (Kessler, 2000; WHO, 2013; Kessler et al, 2017). Sexual assault often induces post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Kessler, 2000; Ozer et al, 2003), a category of mental illness characterized by extreme fear, helplessness and horror during the traumatic event, followed by months and sometimes years of symptoms which include re-experiencing the trauma, avoiding reminders, and hyperarousal, along with impaired cognition and mood (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Most resources focus on preventing sexual violence and helping women with PTSD; not enough target women who are not actively seeking help and do not have any diagnosable disorder. The pressing issue is: what can we do to reduce PTSD and stress-related cognition among women with a history of sexual violence and assault? The pressing issue is: what can we do to reduce PTSD and stress-related cognition among women with a history of sexual violence and assault? In the present study, we provided three different interventions to a large group of women, many of whom had experienced sexual trauma in their lives

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