Mindfulness Training plus Nature Exposure for Veterans with Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders: A Model Intervention

William R. Marchand, William Klinger, Ken Block, Scott VerMerris, Tracy S. Herrmann, Crystal Johnson, Nicole Paradiso, Michael Scott and Brandon Yabko
Additional contact information
William R. Marchand: VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, 500 Foothill, Salt Lake City, UT 84148 USA
William Klinger: VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, 500 Foothill, Salt Lake City, UT 84148 USA
Ken Block: Park City Sailing Association, Park City, UT 84098, USA
Scott VerMerris: Park City Sailing Association, Park City, UT 84098, USA
Tracy S. Herrmann: VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, 500 Foothill, Salt Lake City, UT 84148 USA
Crystal Johnson: VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, 500 Foothill, Salt Lake City, UT 84148 USA
Nicole Paradiso: Park City Sailing Association, Park City, UT 84098, USA
Michael Scott: VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, 500 Foothill, Salt Lake City, UT 84148 USA
Brandon Yabko: VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, 500 Foothill, Salt Lake City, UT 84148 USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 23, 1-10

Abstract: There is a need to develop novel complementary interventions aimed at enhancing treatment engagement and/or response for veterans with psychiatric and substance use disorders. There is evidence that both mindfulness training and nature exposure (MT/NE) may be beneficial for this population and that combining the two approaches into one intervention might result in synergistic benefit. However, to date, the MT/NE concept has not been tested. This article reports a pilot feasibility and acceptability study of MT/NE which was, in this case, provided via recreational sailing. The primary aim of this project was to develop a model intervention and evaluation process that could be used for future studies of MT/NE interventions using a variety of methods of nature exposure (e.g., hiking, skiing, mountain biking). Results indicate preliminary evidence that it is feasible to utilize MT/NE interventions for the population studied and that the MT/NE model described can serve as a template for future investigations. Further, there were significant pre- to post-intervention decreases in state anxiety, as well as increases in trait mindfulness. Three psychological instruments were identified that might be used in future studies to evaluate MT/NE outcomes. Results from this project provide a model MT/NE intervention template along with evaluation metrics for use in future studies.

Keywords: veterans; mental disorders; mindfulness; substance-related disorders; complementary therapies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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