Experienced Zen, Yoga, and Transcendental Meditation meditators and control groups listened to auditory clicks during meditation. EEG alpha suppression and skin conductance response showed clear habituation that did not differ among groups, failing to replicate earlier claims that these meditation styles produce distinct states of consciousness. The N100, P200, and P300 components of the EEG evoked potential were also measured.
College students in South Africa with posttraumatic stress disorder who practiced the Transcendental Meditation technique twice daily showed significant reductions in PTSD symptoms and depression compared to a control group of students who did not meditate. The benefits were linked to how regularly students practiced. The findings suggest Transcendental Meditation may serve as an alternative educational intervention for PTSD in higher education settings.
Among Congolese refugees with posttraumatic stress, learning Transcendental Meditation was followed by large reductions in PTSD symptoms within 10 days. Average scores on a standard PTSD checklist fell from 77.9 to 48.0 in 10 days, then further to 35.3 at 30 days. The effect size at 10 days was very large (d = 4.05). No adverse events occurred, and all 11 participants completed the study.
In a matched single-blind pilot study, Congolese refugees in Kampala, Uganda who learned Transcendental Meditation (TM) showed substantial reductions in posttraumatic stress symptoms. The TM group's average PCL-C score dropped from 65 (severe symptoms) at baseline to below 30 after 30 days of practice, remaining low at 135 days. The control group's scores trended upward. Effect size was large (d > 1.0). Compliance was good, with no adverse events. The results suggest TM may be an effective, safe intervention for reducing PTS symptoms in this population.