University of the People

HS 4241 – Psychopathology and mental Health

Unit 3: Anxiety & Related Disorders
Written Assignment unit 3
Zummuna Davis (Instructor)
20/02/2024
Introduction
Anxiety, also known as anxiety disorder, is a fear-based psychological state that is characterized
by abnormal behavior and physical symptoms like tense muscles, elevated heart rate, palpation
of racing heartbeats, worry about the unknown, particularly the future, and a generalized feeling
of unease. Stress can also lead to anxiety, including emotional disappointment or trauma,
impending exams, financial instability, health scares or unhealthy conditions, excessive alcohol
consumption, sleep disturbances, chronic medical conditions, a significant performance or event,
an adverse drug reaction, substance misuse, oxygen deprivation, and illicit drug use. Even with
all of the contributing variables, anxiety is a normal part of life, and nearly everyone will
encounter some degree of anxiety on a daily basis as part of being human. Common concerns
include traffic jams that cause delays to work, health risks, money problems, family problems,
dysfunctions, and a host of other issues (Noba, n.d.). My selection for this assignment is a post-
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) article that discussed the Mantram Repetition Program's
application in treating hyperarousal, as well as its review and therapeutic approach (Crawford et
al., 2019) and how this therapeutic strategy might be applied in medical facilities and other
settings.
Mantram Repetition Program for PTSD
The Mantram Repetition Program is a useful tool for helping people with post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) control and reduce episodes of hyperarousal. According to the authors of the
article by Crawford et al. Mantram repetition, one-pointed focus, and slowing down are three
portable meditation-based techniques that can be used to train attention and regulate emotions.
The Mantram Repetition Program (MRP) was developed in 2019. In order to induce mental and
physical calmness, this technique repeats a short spiritual utterance or prayer (Crawford et al.,
2019).
Participants, Methods, Measurements, and Analysis in use
Data were collected via a randomized controlled study, which was followed by a Supplementary
Analysis. In this study, 173 Veterans with PTSD were randomly assigned to either the MRP
process or a non-specific psychotherapy control, and they were assessed before, during, and eight
weeks after therapy. The study participants had to be at least eighteen years old and have an
active diagnosis of PTSD, with the diagnosis having to do with their military experience. The
study utilized time-lagged hierarchical linear modeling to evaluate multiple mediation models
and examine the impact of the therapies on clusters of PTSD symptoms. Additionally, the
measurements used in this study included the military version of the post-traumatic checklist and
the clinician-administered PTSD scale for DSM-IV. The program's volunteers were assembled
via flyers and referrals from providers. Initially, self-reported measures and interviews conducted
with a blind assessor were used; subsequently, participants were randomly assigned to MRP or
PCT, and upon completion of treatment, they were re-interviewed to detect any progress
(Crawford et al., 2019).
The Outcome (Results)
Every treatment option improved each cluster of PTSD symptoms, as the study's results showed.
Higher decreases in hyperarousal and numbness have been observed with the MRP, with Hedge's
g = 0.57 at post-treatment, 0.52 at follow-up, and 0.47 at post-treatment. Due to hyperarousal, the
composite of the other PTSD symptom clusters decreased. But since the condition deteriorates in
this way, using the reverse model worked well and has advantages.
The Study conclusion
As per Crawford et al. (2019), it was determined that hyperarousal-focused therapy management
may be useful and crucial to PTSD management and recovery; reducing hyperarousal and
subsequently having a positive impact on other PTSD symptom clusters is one way to accelerate
the rate of recovery as seen in the MRP.
Implications and Application as indicated by the study
After reading the article, it seems that MRP can effectively aid veterans suffering from PTSD
disorder, enhancing their quality of life by reducing the frequency of PTSD flare-ups. Thus,
according to US News Health (n.d.), between eleven and twenty veterans out of every hundred
suffer from PTSD annually. For those with PTSD, Haven says the study's findings indicate that
there are options besides traditional therapy. This kind of care has a lot of potential to improve
their quality of life, so I think healthcare facilities should be able to provide it because it is easily
accessible and reasonably priced. Incorporating these treatment modalities into clinical settings
also amends the regulations, requiring uniform training and introduction to these therapies for all
medical professionals.
Conclusion
Anxiety is a natural part of life; we all experience it to varying degrees in our daily lives.
Anxiety can motivate us to take positive actions, like being prepared, saving money for the
future, or studying more; however, anxiety, particularly in extreme cases, can be debilitating and
overwhelming. Anxiety disorders can make it difficult for a person to manage their anxiety.
Anxiety disorders can be caused by psychological factors and stress, as well as biological
(genetic) factors. Anxiety disorders include, among others, obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, specific phobia, generalized
anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder (Soba, n.d.). As previously mentioned, the article
provided an overview of the effective MRP therapy, a non-therapeutic approach being tested for
the treatment and management of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Reference
Anxiety and related disorders. Noba. (n.d.). Retrieved July 4, 2024, from
https://nobaproject.com/textbooks/elizabeth-alvarez-sawyer-new-textbook/modules/anxiety-
andrelated-disorders
Crawford, J. N., Talkovsky, A. M., Bormann, J. E., & Lang, A. J. (2019). Targeting
hyperarousal: Mantram repetition program for PTSD in US veterans. European Journal of
Psychotraumatology,10(1), 1665768. Retrieved from
https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2019.1665768
Statistics on PTSD in Veterans - US News Health. (n.d.). Retrieved July 4, 2023, from
https://health.usnews.com/conditions/mental-health/ptsd/articles/ptsd-veterans-statistics