Mind-body interventions (MBIs) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) show promise but have inconsistent evidence. A review of 26 randomized controlled trials found low-strength evidence for mindfulness-based and meditation- or mantra-based interventions due to contradictory results and high risk of bias. Movement-based interventions (e.g., yoga, tai chi) had moderate-strength evidence, with individual studies consistently favoring the intervention across a relatively large number of studies and participants. Only two of the 26 studies used objective outcome measures. The review highlights the need for better comparator conditions, standardized measurement, and objective outcomes in future research.
Among women with both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD), greater duration of formal mindfulness practice (minutes per session) predicted reduced PTSD symptoms six months after an 8-session mindfulness-based relapse prevention program. More practice was linked to lower total PTSD symptoms, trauma-related avoidance, arousal and reactivity, and negative cognitions and mood. Informal mindfulness practice did not predict any improvements. The findings suggest formal mindfulness practice may help sustain PTSD symptom reductions in this population, but further research on promoting ongoing formal practice is needed.
A pilot mixed-methods study adapted mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) for clients in methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) and tested its feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy. Fifteen adults from a methadone clinic completed a 6-week MBRP course. Focus groups and satisfaction surveys indicated the intervention was feasible and acceptable. Self-reported depression, craving, and trauma symptoms improved significantly from baseline to postcourse; anxiety and experiential avoidance also changed in the expected direction but did not reach statistical significance. The results support further trials of mindfulness-based approaches in MMT settings.