BALTIMORE, MD – The Peter G. Dodge Foundation (PGDF) announced its inaugural research grant, to be awarded to the David Lynch Foundation for a feasibility study on Transcendental Meditation (TM) and alcohol dependence. The study will attempt to establish whether TM is useful in preventing relapse following inpatient treatment for alcohol use disorder.
The David Lynch Foundation will contract with the Friends Research Institute, a non-profit research institution specializing in substance use health services research, to conduct the study. Principal Investigator Jan Gryczynski, PhD, will oversee the study, which will be conducted at the Avery Road Treatment Center in Rockville, MD. Avery Road is an inpatient treatment facility annually serving over 400 patients with a primary diagnosis of AUD.
The practice of TM involves the silent repetition of a mantra during short meditation sessions performed twice daily. The technique has been shown to improve cardiac health, boost cognitive development, and reduce stress, as well as symptoms of PTSD, anxiety and depression. Previous studies of TM and addiction have shown promise, yet no new research has been conducted since the mid-1990’s. The objective of the PGDF/ DLF study is to establish feasibility for a larger NIH-funded study.
About the Peter G. Dodge Foundation
The Peter G. Dodge Foundation is a philanthropic organization dedicated to helping people lead lives free from the effects of alcohol addiction. Founded by Hanover Research CEO Peter G. Dodge, PGDF supports the advancement of new treatments and the dissemination of up-to-date information about alcohol-use disorder.
“The Peter G. Dodge Foundation is intended to be a driving force for improving the lives of people with alcohol-use disorder. AUD causes incalculable amounts of human misery and economic expense, yet despite the enormity of the problem, diagnosis and treatment can be haphazard and largely ineffective. We hope to change that by funding research for new treatments, sharing information, and supporting programs and organizations that are making a difference,” says Founder, Peter Dodge.
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