Randomized controlled trials of mind-body interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review.
Josh Kaplan, Vanessa C Somohano, Belle Zaccari, Maya E O'Neil
Frontiers in Psychology 2023 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1219296 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 26 |
| Population | Randomized controlled trials on mind-body interventions for PTSD |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based interventions meditation- and mantra-based interventions movement-based interventions |
| Topics | Meditation PTSD |
| Keywords | Complementary integrative health Exercise Intervention Mind–body Movement Posttraumatic stress disorder |
| Citations | 19 |
| Key findings | Movement-based interventions had moderate-strength evidence for improving PTSD symptoms, while mindfulness-based and meditation- or mantra-based interventions had low-strength evidence due to inconsistent results and high risk of bias. |
Abstract
Mind-body interventions (MBIs) include mindfulness-based interventions (MiBIs), meditation- and mantra-based interventions (MMIs), and movement-based interventions (MoBIs). These approaches have demonstrated preliminary efficacy in improving posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have noted that this area of research is limited by inadequate comparator conditions, heterogeneity of measurement, and absence of objective outcome measures. For these reasons, an updated review of the highest-quality evidence available is warranted. We used the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)-funded evidence tables for the PTSD-Repository to identify relevant studies and assess the risk of bias as follows: The search was conducted between June 2018 and June 2022, and databases included PTSDpubs (formerly PILOTS), Ovid® MEDLINE®, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase®, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL®), SCOPUS, and PsycINFO®. Twenty-six randomized controlled trials met our inclusion criteria. After identifying studies and retrieving risk of bias information from the PTSD-Repository evidence tables, we extracted additional data and synthesized the evidence. The strength of evidence was rated as low for MiBIs and MMIs, largely due to contradicting results, inconsistent use of active versus passive comparators, and high risk of bias. The strength of evidence for MoBIs was rated as moderate due to individual studies consistently favoring the intervention and a relatively large number of studies and participants. Of the 26 included studies, only two included objective outcome measures. Implications for future MBI research and clinical applications for treating PTSD are discussed.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on PTSD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Mindfulness Processes and User Experiences in a Randomized Controlled Trial of the Mindfulness Coach App for Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Mindfulness July 11, 2026
- Towards therapeutic paths with mindfulness meditation–based and psychedelics assisted psychotherapies in PTSD: Randomized controlled trials systematic review and meta-analysis Cortica December 15, 2025
- Recommending Meditation in Complex PTSD: Clinical Considerations Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association September 23, 2026
- Ritual Recitation as a Mind-Body Practice for Trauma Recovery Exploring Body-Mind Interactions and Their Impact on Well-Being March 19, 2026
Cites 19
- A Pilot Study of the Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Brain Response to Traumatic Reminders of Combat in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Combat Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Frontiers in Psychiatry August 25, 2017
- Compassion Meditation for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans: A Randomized Proof of Concept Study Journal of Traumatic Stress March 31, 2019
- A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Transcendental Meditation as Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans. Journal of Traumatic Stress February 1, 2022
- Comparing meditative scuba diving versus multisport activities to improve post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms: a pilot, randomized controlled clinical trial. European Journal of Psychotraumatology 2022
- Loving-Kindness Meditation vs Cognitive Processing Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Veterans JAMA Network Open April 1, 2021
and 14 more in the library