An intervention combining cognitive techniques with loving-kindness meditations (C-METTA) reduced PTSD symptoms, trauma-related guilt, and trauma-related shame more than a wait-list condition in a small randomized trial of 32 trauma-exposed patients. The effects were large: PTSD symptoms (d = -1.09), guilt (d = -2.85), and shame (d = -2.14) all showed greater reductions with C-METTA, along with improvements in general psychopathology and self-criticism. The intervention consisted of six weekly individual sessions followed by a four-week practice phase. These results suggest C-METTA may offer improved care for patients with stress-related disorders.
A combination of cognitive techniques and loving-kindness meditation (C-METTA) significantly reduced PTSD symptoms, trauma-related guilt, and trauma-related shame in 25 survivors of interpersonal violence, 96% of whom were women aged 19–61. Effect sizes were large, ranging from d = 1.12 to d = 1.67 for PTSD symptoms, d = 1.54 for guilt, and d = 1.26 for shame. Childhood trauma, cumulative trauma, and chronic PTSD did not influence treatment effectiveness. The authors suggest C-METTA may expand treatment options for PTSD following interpersonal violence, though regression to the mean should be considered as a confounding factor.
Mindfulness measured by a brief breathing exercise (MBE) and by a questionnaire (FFMQ) showed positive correlations in healthy controls and people with depression, but not in those with PTSD. The breathing exercise predicted lower hyperarousal and fewer intrusive thoughts in the PTSD group, while the questionnaire predicted fewer depressive symptoms in the depression and control groups. Both clinical groups scored lower on the questionnaire than controls, and showed a trend toward lower scores on the breathing exercise. Findings suggest the breathing exercise adds unique predictive value for PTSD symptoms beyond what questionnaires capture.