Comparing meditative scuba diving versus multisport activities to improve post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms: a pilot, randomized controlled clinical trial.
European Journal of Psychotraumatology January 1, 2022 Lionel Gibert, Mathieu Coulange, Jean-Charles Reynier et al.
A controlled randomized clinical pilot study compared scuba diving combined with mindfulness exercises (the Bathysmed® protocol) to a non-specific multisport program for reducing PTSD symptoms. The Bathysmed® protocol improved PCL-5 scores more than multisport, but the result was not significant. It significantly reduced intrusion symptoms after one month. Trait mindfulness scores improved up to one month after the course, but not significantly. Three months after the course, no differences between groups remained on PCL-5 or Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory scores. The authors suggest mindfulness must be practiced long-term for stable benefits and that further work is needed to confirm these partial but encouraging results.