Device-guided breathing as a possible tool to improve the outcome of exposure therapy
| Autor: | Maartje Cathelijne de Jong, Cornelis Hendrikus Boersma |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2010 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Mental Illness, Vol 2, Iss 1, Pp e6-e6 (2010) |
| Druh dokumentu: | article |
| ISSN: | 2036-7457 2036-7465 |
| DOI: | 10.4081/mi.2010.e6 |
| Popis: | Exposure therapy is a widely used treatment for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder. It involves reduction of fear through progressive exposure to frightening stimuli in a therapeutic environment. Here we propose a new method designed to improve the effectiveness of exposure therapy. We hypothesized that device-guided breathing during exposure therapy can increase the capability of the patient to undergo effective exposure. The successful application of the method is described for a single patient. Using a device to slow and regularize breathing, the patient was calmed and experienced a greater sense of control and a profound effect of the exposure. The use of the breathing-guiding device is believed to reduce arousal level and excitability of sympathetic “fight-flight” behaviors. The present study suggests that device-guided breathing integrated with exposure therapy may provide a practically feasible and potentially promising non-pharmacological treatment after trauma. |
| Databáze: | Directory of Open Access Journals |
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