Citation

Lawrence S, de Silva M, Henley R. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2010; (1): CD007171.

Affiliation

c/o Lifespan Research Group, Royal Holloway, University of London, 11 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3RF, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, The Cochrane Collaboration, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/14651858.CD007171.pub2

PMID

20091620

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Traumatic experiences evoke emotions such as fear, anxiety and distress and may encourage avoidance of similar situations in the future. For a proportion of those exposed to a traumatic event, this emotional reaction becomes uncontrollable and can develop into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Breslau 2001). Most of those diagnosed with PTSD fully recover while a small proportion develop a chronic PTSD a year after the event (First 2004). Sports and games may be able to alleviate symptoms of PTSD. OBJECTIVES: Primary objective: 1. To assess the effectiveness of sports, and games in alleviating and/or diminishing the symptoms of PTSD when compared to usual care or other interventions.Secondary objective: 2. To assess the effectiveness of different types of sports and games in alleviating and/or diminishing symptoms of PTSD. SEARCH STRATEGY: The Cochrane Collaboration Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Controlled Trials Registers (CCDAN-CTR) were searched up to June 2008.The following databases were searched up to June 2008: the Cochrane Central registry of Controlled Trials; MEDLINE; EMBASE; CINAHL; PsycINFO. Reference lists of relevant papers were searched and experts in the field were contacted to determine if other studies were available. SELECTION CRITERIA: To be included, participants had to be diagnosed with PTSD using criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM IV) and/or ICD criteria. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that considered one or more well-specified sports or games for alleviating and/or diminishing symptoms of PTSD were included.Sports, and games were defined as any organized physical activity done alone or with a group and non-physical activities such as computer games and card games done alone or with a group. Psychological interventions such as music therapy, art therapy and play therapy and behavioural therapy were excluded. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers (SL and MD) separately checked the titles and abstracts of the search results to determine which studies met the pre-determined inclusion criteria. A flow chart was used to guide the selection process. No studies met the inclusion criteria. MAIN RESULTS: The search strategy identified five papers but none of the studies met inclusion criteria. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: No studies met the inclusion criteria. More research is therefore required before a fair assessment can be made of the effectiveness of sports and games in alleviating symptoms of PTSD.

Language: en