Effects of Transcendental Meditation in Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Pilot Study
Joshua Z. Rosenthal, Sarina Grosswald, Richard J Ross, Norman Rosenthal
Military Medicine June 1, 2011 DOI: 10.7205/milmed-d-10-00254 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Uncontrolled pilot study Placebo-controlled Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 5 |
| Population | Veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom with combat-related PTSD |
| Intervention | Transcendental meditation |
| Duration | 12-week follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 98 |
| Key points | All five veterans improved on the primary PTSD symptom measure after 12 weeks of transcendental meditation, with a mean change score of 31.4 on the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale. |
Abstract
We conducted an uncontrolled pilot study to determine whether transcendental meditation (TM) might be helpful in treating veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Five veterans were trained in the technique and followed for 12 weeks. All subjects improved on the primary outcome measure, the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (mean change score, 31.4; p = 0.02; df = 4). Significant improvements were also observed for 3 secondary outcome measures: Clinician's Global Inventory-Severity (mean change score, 1.60; p < 0.04; df = 4), Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (mean change score, -13.00; p < 0.01; df = 4), and the PTSD Checklist-Military Version (mean change score, 24.00; p < 0.02; df = 4). TM may have helped to alleviate symptoms of PTSD and improve quality of life in this small group of veterans. Larger, placebo-controlled studies should be undertaken to further determine the efficacy of TM in this population.