NCJ Number
59170
Date Published
1977
Length
22 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT EVALUATES THE TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION (TM) PROGRAM AS A NONCHEMICAL SUBSTITUTE FOR DRUG ABUSERS AND ASSESS ITS APPLICABILITY AS A TREATMENT MODULE IN A MAXIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTION.
Abstract
RESEARCH AND PRISON STUDIES HAVE INDICATED THAT THE TM PROGRAM IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE IN ELIMINATING DRUG ABUSE AMONG PRISONERS. IN THIS STUDY OF A SMALL PILOT TM PROGRAM AT THE MAXIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTION IN WALPOLE, MASS., MEASURING CHANGES IN DRUG ABUSE PATTERNS WAS NOT FEASIBLE DUE TO INMATE'S RELUCTANCE TO REPORT DRUG USE. CONSEQUENTLY, ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO MEASURE CHANGES IN PERSONALITY TRAITS AND BEHAVIOR PATTERNS KNOWN TO CONTRIBUTE TO DRUG ABUSE. FACTORS MEASURED INCLUDED ANXIETY, HOSTILITY, SLEEP PATTERNS, SMOKING HABITS, AND DISCIPLINARY INFRACTIONS, SUBJECTIVE REACTIONS TO THE PROGRAM WERE ELICITED FROM PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, CORRECTIONS OFFICERS, PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELORS, AND ADMINISTRATORS. THREE GROUPS OF 15 MEN WERE INSTRUCTED IN THE PROGRAM; 28 PARTICIPATED IN PRETESTING, WHILE 25 WERE INVOLVED IN POSTTESTS. INSTRUMENTS USED WERE THE SPIELBERGER STATE-TRAIT ANXIETY INVENTORY, THE BUSS-DURKEE HOSTILITY INVENTORY, A QUESTIONNAIRE ON SLEEP AND SMOKE HABITS, AND A SELF-REPORT EVALUATORY QUESTIONNAIRE. MAJOR FINDINGS WERE THAT USE OF TM PRODUCED A REDUCTION IN ANXIETY AND HOSTILITY, IMPROVED SLEEP, AND REDUCED DISCIPLINARY INFRACTIONS AMONG MEN PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED CUSTODIAL PROBLEMS. THERE WAS A HIGH LEVEL OF ENTHUSIASM AND SUPPORT FOR THE PROGRAM AMONG THE PARTICIPANTS. INFORMAL REPORTS OF DECREASED NEED FOR DRUG USE DURING TM WERE ALSO RECEIVED BY PRISON PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PROGRAM STAFF, AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSE WAS FAVORABLE TO THE CONTINUATION AND EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM. A LIST OF REFERENCES AND A COPY OF THE SELF-REPORT QUESTIONNAIRE ARE APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MJW)