Authorship
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characteristic of psychological and physiological distress which manifests itself in the form of lack of sleep, hallucinations among others (First, 2010). The typical treatment methods for PTSD are prolonged exposure and cognitive behavioral therapy. However, most of the health practitioners have expressed dissatisfaction with these conventional approaches because they worsen the PTSD conditions leading to treatment attrition (Kaminer & Eagle, 2017). This prompted for the need for complementary treatment options for PTSD. Yoga is an example of the most recommended intervention treatment for PTSD symptoms because of its ability to incorporate both mind and body in treatment. This paper purposes to critique the article by Jindani and Khalsa (2015) on the experiences of individuals with PTSD symptoms undergoing yoga treatment to provide quality evidence for informed decision making by Tasso.
The authors Jindani and Khalsa have Ph.D. and BA qualifications respectively. A doctorate academic qualifications imply that Jindani is an expert in his field of major whereas a BA qualification implies that Khalsa is an educated fellow in his discipline. Jindani has an affiliation with the CAMH in Toronto Canada. This means that the author is not only qualified academically but also has experience in the discipline of addiction and mental health. Khalsa is also associated to an institution of higher learning in faith and spirituality in Toronto Canada. Despite his low academic qualification, the experience gained from affiliation is informational in the study of mental health. However, there is a possibility of the rise in conflicts in the study in relation to their affiliations. The authors are examining the effectiveness of a yoga program in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while at the same time they are affiliated with mental health organizations. This is likely to be grounds for the bias of their study when they come across matters that conflict the routine practice at their centers of affiliations.
The common PTSD interventions are cognitive behavioral therapy and extended exposure treatments. However, most of the health care providers are reluctant in using exposure therapies for fear of existing evidence that the worsen PTSD symptoms in patients leading to treatment attrition (Kindt & van Emmerik, 2016). Additionally, evidence shows a contraindication of exposure therapies in trauma survivors at the beginning of the treatment because they are likely to refresh implied flashbacks or bodily sensations thus re-traumatizing the patient instead of managing the trauma (Thrasher, Power, Morant, Marks, & Dalgleish, 2010). Thrasher et al. observes that exposure intervention doesn’t lead to overall betterment in social, occupational functioning and health. This has caused clinicians and researcher to shift their focus to complimentary interventions for PTSD that regards the association between body and mind. An example of such a complementary treatment is yoga (Mehta & Sharma, 2010). Despite the existing known benefits of yoga to both the mind and body, very few researches assess the qualitative experiences of those enrolled for the yoga programme (Wahbeh, Senders, Neuendorf, & Cayton, 2014). This paper purposes to investigate the experiences of people with PTSD symptoms enrolled in yoga programme.
Research questions
The qualitative study used a randomized control design (RCT) which is a trial in which subjects are allocated to two groups (intervention and control group) in a random manner. This design is the most appropriate for the study because it enables the comparison of one treatment against another to establish superiority. Randomization also reduces selection and allocation bias (Liamputtong, 2016).
Telephone interviews were used to recruit participants after completing the two months KY program. The use of telephone interviews was most appropriate for the study because it’s economical and efficient. It also enables the development of a rapport between researchers and participants and thus enhancing the quality of data obtained. However, this approach makes it challenging to maintain participant involvement (Greenhalgh, Bidewell, Crisp, Lambros, & Warland, 2017). Data collection was accomplished by the use of a semi-structured telephone interview that was audio recorded. The audio recording method of data collection ensures that no data is lost and captures the actual experiences of the participants and thus increasing the validity and reliability of the findings (Thissen, 2014). However, telephone interviews are dependent on the suitability of the location of the respondent as the immediate environment can affect the respondents’ response and yet the researcher has no control over it. This further compromises the quality of the data (Thissen, 2014).
Data analysis was done using qualitative thematic analysis. This approach was most applicable in the study because it is best suited for topics that have not been adequately explored especially in the healthcare sector. Furthermore, the qualitative thematic analysis allows for the rise of new themes which can be determined during analysis (Liamputtong, 2016).
The study found out that yoga treatment program enabled patients with PTSD symptoms to master the techniques to calm down, adapt to the mind and body level, become conscious of the thought process, and to manage feelings. The strategies obtained in the exercise lead to skills of self-mastery and were found to be empowering, reachable and effective. This outcome is essential in trauma-related programs because self-mastery and individual regulation are fundamental in the re-learning of feedbacks and conducts and to individually design body comfort. The study concluded that the development of self-care techniques are essential in the treatment of PTSD symptoms. Therefore, effective intervention for the treatment of trauma is that which combines both the mind and body of which yoga is a perfect example. The outcomes show that yoga treatment enables the acquisition of self-care skills to people with PTSD symptoms and can be learned and applied at home. Therefore, the study answered the research question. The study was however without limitation. Some degree of intrinsic motivation was needful for the respondents to complete the treatment program which was to last for eight weeks. This aspect could discourage some of the participants and withdraw from the study or become reluctant in providing the required information.
Research design
The evidence provided in the article would be most appropriate in practice. The outcomes indicate that yoga strategies focus on self-care which improve healing and accessibility. I would, therefore, apply yoga treatment strategies as an effective treatment program of PTSD symptoms because these findings are not only based on actual experiences of individuals with PTSD symptoms but have also been substantiated in other studies. For example, Ford, Chapman, Connor, and Cruise (2012) suggested that environmental adaptation and the sense of self-sufficiency necessitates the need for individual understanding and emotions in addition to adequate adaptive skills. However, the application of the research will be limited to the lack of information on the elements of yoga group dynamics about the intervention and specifics on group involvement (Jindani & Khalsa, 2015, p. 407).
Conclusion
The experiences of people with PTSD symptoms show that yoga treatment is much more an effective intervention method of treatment. Yoga treatment strategies incorporate the aspects of mind and body that are not addressed in other conventional treatment programs such as the prolonged exposure treatment. The participation of the subjects with PTSD symptoms in the yoga group fostered the feelings of normalcy, group support, and devotion to each other’s healing and development. Therefore, yoga treatment is much more appropriate in the betterment of the quality of life for those diagnosed with PTSD based on the convincing evidence demonstrated in the study. Tasso can therefore, without doubt, undergo yoga treatment to relieve him of the PTSD symptoms.
References
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Ford, J. D., Chapman, J., Connor, D. F., & Cruise, K. R. (2012). Complex trauma and
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