Trauma and Neuroplasticity

Including the Body in Psychotherapy with Chronic Diseases People

Introduction: In many mental and psychiatric disorders such as PTSD, ADHD, stress, depression, and anxiety, the central nervous system (CNS) becomes dysregulated. Medical and psychotherapeutic treatments typically aim to restore balance in the CNS using medication and/or psychological interventions. Body-mind approaches such as Somatic Experiencing, Polyvagal Therapy, EMDR, Bioenergetic Analysis, and Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE) claim to help restore this balance. While these techniques often show promising results, there is limited scientific evidence demonstrating how they impact the CNS. At the Danish Society for Multiple Sclerosis, we have worked with over 1,000 people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) using TRE and Bioenergetic Analysis. The patient organization has conducted two studies on this work, and the Neurological Department for Multiple Sclerosis in Buenos Aires has conducted a third study based on our initial findings. These three studies, along with anecdotal evidence, suggest that TRE and Bioenergetic Analysis may reduce symptoms caused by CNS damage by enhancing neuroplasticity.

Methodology / Approach: In all three studies, participants practiced TRE for a period of 8 weeks. First Danish study: Evaluated ankle reflex-mediated stiffness (a measure of spasticity using a Portable Spasticity Assessment Device (PSAD)) and fatigue levels via the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). The Argentinian study: Used the Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life Questionnaire (MusiQoL) and the Treatment Burden Questionnaire (TBQ). The second Danish study: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) measuring fatigue via MFIS and using additional technical devices.

Results / Findings: First Danish study: Participants reported consistent, significant improvements in stress, fatigue, gait disturbances, dizziness, balance issues, spasticity, muscle weakness, and pain. The Argentinian study: Showed improvements in overall quality of life. Daily TRE practice did not increase treatment burden. Second Danish study: The primary outcome demonstrated that TRE significantly reduced fatigue. Secondary outcomes included significant reductions in self-reported spasticity, pain, stress and cognitive ability.

Conclusion / Perspective: In MS, the CNS progressively loses its ability to transmit electrical impulses due to cell damage and death. This degeneration results in reduced neuroplasticity - the CNS's ability to reorganize and form new neural connections. In the three TRE studies involving people with MS, a significant reduction in somatic and psychological symptoms was observed over just eight weeks. As the creation of new neurons is unlikely to occur in such a short timeframe, it is reasonable to infer that TRE helps rebalance the CNS, enhancing neuroplasticity and allowing it to compensate more effectively for nerve damage. TRE, through spontaneous muscular vibrations and fascial stretching, helps relax affected areas and increases blood and fluid circulation. This alters sensory input to the CNS, reducing the stress signals it receives. As a result, the CNS is less overwhelmed and functions more flexibly. These findings indicate that similar mechanisms may apply to other psychological and neurological disorders and could serve as an argument for including the body in psychotherapy working with traumatized populations. Further research is needed to confirm the positive effects found in the three studies.

Vortrag im Rahmen des Weltkongresses für Psychotherapie "Polarities of Life 2025" an der Sigmund Freud Privatuniversität Wien vom 16. bis 19. Juli 2025, ca. 46 Min. auf 1 CD oder 1 DVD oder als Sofortdownload (63 MB audio, 1,04 GB video).

Vortrag aus dem Jahr 2025, aufgenommen in Wien

Sprache: Englisch

 

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