A randomized non-inferiority trial compared Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY), a breathing-based group program, with individual cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 85 veterans (mean age 56.9, 61% white, 75 men). At 6 weeks, PTSD symptoms (measured by the PCL-C) decreased by 5.6 points with SKY and 6.8 points with CPT. The difference of -1.2 points fell within the prespecified non-inferiority margin of 10 points, indicating SKY was not inferior to CPT. SKY remained non-inferior at 1-month and 1-year follow-ups for PTSD symptoms, but was inferior to CPT on depression and affect measures at 1 year. Dropout rates were similar (27% SKY, 34% CPT). The authors suggest SKY merits further consideration as a PTSD treatment.
Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) improved valued living—living consistently with personal values—in Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder, while sudarshan kriya yoga (SKY) did not produce significant improvements. In a randomized trial with 59 Veterans, CPT led to moderate gains in progress toward valued living and reductions in obstruction to valued living from baseline to end of treatment. Differences between the two treatments were not statistically significant. Veterans who started with less valued living and more depression symptoms showed greater improvements in valued living after either treatment.
A protocol describes an ongoing non-inferiority randomized controlled trial comparing a breathing meditation intervention (Sudarshan Kriya Yoga) to cognitive processing therapy for PTSD among veterans. The trial uses blinded assessors and measures PTSD symptoms via the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version, along with clinical, self-report, experimental, and physiological outcomes across four symptom clusters. Analyses will include both intent-to-treat and per-protocol procedures. This is the first such trial of SKY versus CPT for veterans with PTSD. Results will inform future efficacy studies and formal recommendations for complementary interventions.