Contemporary clinical trials communications
June 1, 2026
Anne Malaktaris, Niloofar Afari, Pollyanna Casmar et al.
Chronic pain with psychological comorbidity, especially posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or depression, is a prevalent and costly problem, especially among Veterans. Compassion meditation (CM) is a meditative practice that focuses on developing attentional regulation and the intention to assuage suffering. CM-based approaches show promise in ameliorating physical and mental health...
Behaviour Research and Therapy
September 1, 2025
M. Herbert, J. Fishbein, M. Tynan et al.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an empirically-supported psychotherapy for chronic pain. Although mindfulness is a key component of ACT, most ACT protocols do not include formal mindfulness meditation practice as a principal treatment method, leaving open the question of whether formal practice may bolster ACT's effects. Addressing this gap, the present study assessed the feasibility...
Clinical Gerontologist
2025
Anne Malaktaris, Caitlin L Mclean, Pollyanna Casmar et al.
2 citations
Older Veterans are at elevated risk for psychological distress and may encounter barriers to accessing mental health services. Compassion Meditation (CM) promotes positive emotions and outcomes among distressed individuals; thus, we conducted a preliminary feasibility study of CM among distressed older Veterans. Participants included 25 Veterans aged 55+ (M = 69.0, SD = 10.6) with anxiety...
Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policy
October 31, 2024
Caitlin L Mclean, Ashley Faytol, Gage Chu et al.
1 citation
While mobile delivery can help increase access to evidence-based treatment for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), feasibility and acceptability are of concern with the potential for high attrition rates and limited participation. The Mantram Repetition Program (MRP), a meditation-focused approach with documented efficacy for reducing symptoms of PTSD and insomnia, was adapted...
Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine
October 1, 2024
Skylar Kelsven, Caitlin L Mclean, Kiara Widjanarko et al.
3 citations
Objectives: This secondary analysis examined five facets of mindful awareness as potential moderators of clinical outcomes using data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that compared Mantram Repetition Program (MRP) with present-centered therapy (PCT) in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods: Data were examined from 173 veterans with military-related PTSD randomly...
European Journal of Psychotraumatology
2023
Barbara L Niles, Ariel J Lang, Miranda Olff
16 citations
ABSTRACTTo treat the impact of trauma, most current evidence supports the use of trauma-focused psychotherapy as the first line approach. However, millions of individuals exposed to trauma worldwide seek Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) therapies in hopes of achieving wellness above and beyond reducing symptoms. But what is the evidence for CIH interventions? What are potential...
Contemporary Clinical Trials
August 1, 2022
Matthew S Herbert, Mara Tynan, Ariel J Lang et al.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based psychosocial intervention for chronic pain; however, in its present form ACT produces modest improvements in function and is no more effective than cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), the current gold standard. This protocol paper describes the Acting with Mindfulness for Pain (AMP) protocol, which emphasizes and integrates formal...
European Journal of Psychotraumatology
2022
Anne Malaktaris, Caitlin L Mclean, Sheetal Mallavarapu et al.
There is increasing support for the use of meditation-based treatments for US military Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Mantram Repetition Program (MRP), which is a portable meditative practice that features mindful repetition of a sacred phrase, is associated with significant reductions in PTSD symptom severity. Although regular practice is emphasized in meditation-based...
Clinical Gerontologist
November 12, 2020
Anne Malaktaris, Ariel J Lang, Pollyanna Casmar et al.
ABSTRACT Objectives Compassion meditation (CM) training has demonstrated potential in improving well-being and psychosocial functioning. However, most prior studies of CM training have focused on younger adults. The generalizability of the effectiveness of CM training with older adults requires further study. This pilot study was intended to inform future randomized controlled studies of CM...
Mindfulness
2020
Ariel J Lang, Pollyanna Casmar, Samantha Hurst et al.
Compassion meditation (CM) is a contemplative practice that is intended to cultivate the ability to extend and sustain compassion toward self and others. Although research documents the benefits of CM in healthy populations, its use in the context of psychopathology is largely unexamined. The purpose of this study was to refine and initially evaluate a CM protocol, Cognitively Based Compassion...
Journal of Traumatic Stress
March 31, 2019
Ariel J Lang, Anne Malaktaris, Pollyanna Casmar et al.
50 citations
There is considerable interest in developing complementary and integrative approaches for ameliorating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Compassion meditation (CM) and loving-kindness meditation appear to offer benefits to individuals with PTSD, including symptom reduction. The present study was a pilot randomized controlled trial of CM for PTSD in veterans. The CM condition, an adaptation...
European Journal of Psychotraumatology
2019
Jennifer N Crawford, Alexander M Talkovsky, Jill E Bormann et al.
Background: Hyperarousal appears to play an important role in the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, but current evidence-based treatments appear to address this symptom type less effectively than the other symptom clusters. The Mantram Repetition Program (MRP) is a meditation-based intervention that has previously been shown to improve symptoms of...
Behavior modification
November 1, 2012
Ariel J Lang, Jennifer L Strauss, Jessica Bomyea et al.
In spite of the existence of good empirically supported treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), consumers and providers continue to ask for more options for managing this common and often chronic condition. Meditation-based approaches are being widely implemented, but there is minimal research rigorously assessing their effectiveness. This article reviews meditation as an...