Yogic Breathing for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Designing an Application to Supplement Learning and Overcome a Stress State

Abstract

Many who suffer with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) fear the stigma associated with seeking treatment. Often the stigma even prevents sufferers from reaching out for support, resources, or education. The purpose of this project was to design an application (app) to bridge the gap between patient and provider by supplementing patient learning and teaching a yogic breathing technique to overcome an acute stress state. To accomplish this, an extensive literature review sought to determine the viability of pairing complimentary alternative methods (CAM) of treatment with application-based interventions. A specific aim also included evaluation of an app available on the market using industry standard tools, the Systems Usability Scale and HONcode measures, to determine areas for improvement. Applications can present a viable alternative to reaching patients who are unable or refuse to seek provider assistance. There are few apps to address mental health concerns; furthermore, patients may not use applications because they fear bias within the content or the lack of a quality product. Of the applications available on the market created by professional providers, there is a noted lack of aesthetics, user-friendliness, and reliability. To address aesthetics and user-friendliness, the new application is module based and incorporates basic web-application design principles. To address reliability, the new application answered all the objective criteria in the HONcode and scored higher on the subjective Systems Usability Scale than a leading app on the market, as evaluated by the project lead. This application presents an opportunity to determine the success of pairing patient education and CAM with technology. While it is beyond the scope of this project, the new application is ready for a pilot testing to obtain feedback on the content, structure, and usability, before launching on GoogleApps™ for open access.