"When designed to accommodate local cultural traditions, the nature of the trauma,
and long-term sustainability,” Gerbarg and colleagues concluded, “mind-body programs
can meet the urgent need for immediate psychological relief post-disaster as well as
during the recovery years...[Survivors participating in such programs] forge bonds within
their community to solve problems collectively, rather than resorting to violence for
self-preservation. Mind-body practices not only serve disaster survivors but also provide
tools to ameliorate the stress of trauma exposure among service providers. As safe,
simple, adaptable, and cost-effective interventions, mind-body techniques support
individual and community-wide wellness, essential for healing and reconstruction post-
disaster."^23
In a 2012 study, Katzman et al. tested a multi-component, yoga-based, breath
intervention program as an open-label adjunctive treatment in people suffering from
severe, treatment-resistant generalized anxiety disorder. Significant reductions
occurred in the pre- and post-intervention mean HAM-A total score (t=4.59; P<0.01)
and psychic subscale (t=5.00; P≤0.01). The response rate was 73% (21 out of 29 subjects,
defined as a decrease ≥50% on the HAM-A) and remission rate of 41% (12 out of 29
subjects, defined as a HAM-A score ≤7).^24
- ADHD
Brown and Gerbarg’s 2012 book on ADHD reviews Jensen and Kenny’s 2004 open-label
study, Haffner, Roos, Goldstein, Parzer,and Resch’s randomized 2006 study and the YES!
studies still in process, that showed the effectiveness of a program of yoga breathing,
yoga postures, meditation, and interactive discussion and group processes on Identity
Conflict Resolution, Self Esteem, and the Modified Anger Coping, Planning and
Concentration Scale, Distractibility Scale, and Irritability Scale.^25 They conclude that
“while additional studies are needed, encouraging preliminary data support the use of
yoga, a low-risk intervention, as an adjunctive treatment for ADHD.”
