Abby Blankenship

Doctoral Dissertation Announcement

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Candidate: Abby Blankenship

Degree of: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Psychology

Title: A Prospective Examination of Mindfulness Training on the Mitigation of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

Committee:
Dr. Amy Naugle, Chair
Dr. Scott Gaynor
Dr. Paul Metler
Dr. C. Richard Spates

Date: Thursday, September 27, 2012 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
3713 Wood Hall

Abstract:
The current study investigates the ability of a one session computerized mindfulness intervention to mitigate PTSD-like symptoms in response to a trauma analogue.  Ninety-two participants have been randomly assigned to either mindfulness training or no treatment condition.  Participants assigned to the mindfulness training complete one hour of computerized mindfulness training and practice their skills for one week.  After one week, all participants are exposed to an analogue for real-life trauma and are followed for two weeks.  Participants assigned to the mindfulness condition exhibit significantly lower levels of PTSD-like symptoms at two week follow-up in comparison to the no treatment condition.  In addition, participants assigned to the mindfulness condition exhibit more acting with awareness and non-reactivity, and less experiential avoidance and state anxiety.  However, contrary to initial hypotheses, participants in the mindfulness condition do not exhibit lower levels of peritraumatic dissociation; and peritraumatic dissociation is the strongest predictor of PTSD symptoms at one-and-two week follow-up.