Trauma-Informed Mindfulness-Based Yoga
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Hospital |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 13 - 17 |
| Updated: | 2/17/2019 |
| Start Date: | January 14, 2019 |
| End Date: | March 2020 |
| Contact: | Ashli A Owen-Smith, PhD |
| Email: | aowensmith@gsu.edu |
| Phone: | 4044131139 |
Trauma-Informed Mindfulness-Based Yoga Intervention for Juvenile Justice-Involved Youth
The proposed study aims to gather the multiple types of preliminary data needed to design a
large and rigorous pragmatic, cluster randomized trial on the impact of a trauma-informed
mindfulness-based yoga program on enhancing self-regulation (in the short-term) and reducing
recidivism (in the long-term) among juvenile justice-involved youth. Such a study will
ultimately provide more definitive outcomes related to the effectiveness of these programs
this population. If effective, the assimilation of such programs into the treatment plans of
youth in juvenile justice facilities and in other residential settings could have a
significant impact on a range of health, educational, vocational, and interpersonal outcomes
relevant to this population.
large and rigorous pragmatic, cluster randomized trial on the impact of a trauma-informed
mindfulness-based yoga program on enhancing self-regulation (in the short-term) and reducing
recidivism (in the long-term) among juvenile justice-involved youth. Such a study will
ultimately provide more definitive outcomes related to the effectiveness of these programs
this population. If effective, the assimilation of such programs into the treatment plans of
youth in juvenile justice facilities and in other residential settings could have a
significant impact on a range of health, educational, vocational, and interpersonal outcomes
relevant to this population.
There are a number of interventions that aim to reduce recidivism among youth in the juvenile
justice (JJ) system, some of which have documented evidence of effectiveness. However, the
average reduction in recidivism following the implementation of these programs is modest at
best, leaving a majority of JJ-involved youth at risk for recidivism. Many previous
interventions have not been designed to address trauma-related symptoms despite evidence that
most youth in the JJ system have a history of trauma and exposure to traumatic events is a
predictor of recidivism. The pathway by which trauma exposure can lead to and perpetuate
delinquency may be explained by some of the survival-oriented biological changes that occur
in the brain of children who have been exposed to trauma - namely the compromised
self-regulation systems that are responsible for reward/motivation, distress tolerance and
executive function. As a result, youth with a history of trauma often have an impaired
ability to modulate their behavioral and cognitive responses to a wide range of stressors.
Thus, in light of the prevalence of trauma exposure in this population, interventions for
JJ-involved youth should address trauma and, specifically, provide youth with resources
related to enhancing self-regulation skills. Though some trauma-informed interventions have
demonstrated empirical evidence of effectiveness with JJ-involved youth, many have
methodological limitations and have not tested whether complementary mindfulness or
somatically-oriented interventions can reduce recidivism by enhancing self-regulation in this
population. The investigators propose to refine, implement and evaluate a trauma-informed,
mindfulness-based yoga intervention that will enhance self-regulation among youth in the
Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) system. The objectives of this mixed-methods
investigation are to refine and pilot a trauma-informed, mindfulness-based yoga (TIMBY)
program, assess the preliminary impact of this program on youth behavioral and psychosocial
outcomes and test key aspects of the study design to inform the design of a full scale trial.
The aims of this proposal are: (1) employ an iterative drafting and revision process to
refine a trauma-informed yoga intervention specifically for youth in the JJ system, (2)
conduct an initial pilot of the draft TIMBY intervention with JJ-involved youth at 2 DJJ
facilities and (3) conduct and evaluate a small scale feasibility study of the TIMBY
intervention. The expected products of the proposed research include a refined intervention
protocol and manual of procedures, preliminary data regarding the impact of the intervention
on participant outcomes, and data on intervention acceptability, adherence, fidelity,
dose/duration, participant recruitment, retention and attrition, assessment feasibility and
other barriers and facilitators to large-scale implementation. These products and data will
enable a rapid launch of a subsequent, large-scale pragmatic cluster RCT funded through a
future application.
justice (JJ) system, some of which have documented evidence of effectiveness. However, the
average reduction in recidivism following the implementation of these programs is modest at
best, leaving a majority of JJ-involved youth at risk for recidivism. Many previous
interventions have not been designed to address trauma-related symptoms despite evidence that
most youth in the JJ system have a history of trauma and exposure to traumatic events is a
predictor of recidivism. The pathway by which trauma exposure can lead to and perpetuate
delinquency may be explained by some of the survival-oriented biological changes that occur
in the brain of children who have been exposed to trauma - namely the compromised
self-regulation systems that are responsible for reward/motivation, distress tolerance and
executive function. As a result, youth with a history of trauma often have an impaired
ability to modulate their behavioral and cognitive responses to a wide range of stressors.
Thus, in light of the prevalence of trauma exposure in this population, interventions for
JJ-involved youth should address trauma and, specifically, provide youth with resources
related to enhancing self-regulation skills. Though some trauma-informed interventions have
demonstrated empirical evidence of effectiveness with JJ-involved youth, many have
methodological limitations and have not tested whether complementary mindfulness or
somatically-oriented interventions can reduce recidivism by enhancing self-regulation in this
population. The investigators propose to refine, implement and evaluate a trauma-informed,
mindfulness-based yoga intervention that will enhance self-regulation among youth in the
Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) system. The objectives of this mixed-methods
investigation are to refine and pilot a trauma-informed, mindfulness-based yoga (TIMBY)
program, assess the preliminary impact of this program on youth behavioral and psychosocial
outcomes and test key aspects of the study design to inform the design of a full scale trial.
The aims of this proposal are: (1) employ an iterative drafting and revision process to
refine a trauma-informed yoga intervention specifically for youth in the JJ system, (2)
conduct an initial pilot of the draft TIMBY intervention with JJ-involved youth at 2 DJJ
facilities and (3) conduct and evaluate a small scale feasibility study of the TIMBY
intervention. The expected products of the proposed research include a refined intervention
protocol and manual of procedures, preliminary data regarding the impact of the intervention
on participant outcomes, and data on intervention acceptability, adherence, fidelity,
dose/duration, participant recruitment, retention and attrition, assessment feasibility and
other barriers and facilitators to large-scale implementation. These products and data will
enable a rapid launch of a subsequent, large-scale pragmatic cluster RCT funded through a
future application.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Detained at DeKalb Regional Youth Detention Center or the Atlanta Youth Development
Campus (YDC)
- On the mental health caseload
- Male
- Ages 13-17
- English-speaking
- Able to understand and comply with study procedures for the entire length of the study
Exclusion Criteria:
- Recent (within the last week) serious non-compliant behavior (e.g., episodes of
violent behavior requiring restraints or resulting in legal charges)
- Have current, untreated psychosis
- Are cognitively or decisionally impaired
- Are Wards of the State of Georgia
We found this trial at
1
site
Atlanta, Georgia 30302
Principal Investigator: Ashli A Owen-Smith, PhD
Phone: 404-413-5475
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