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 PTSD |
| 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.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on PTSD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 32
- Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease in Adolescents and Adults through the Transcendental Meditation® Program: A Research Review Update Current Hypertension Reviews October 1, 2012
- Oxygen Consumption Changes With Yoga Practices Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine July 17, 2013
- Meditation as a Potential Therapy for Autism: A Review Autism Research and Treatment 2012
- Effectiveness of Meditation Techniques in Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) December 12, 2024
- Meditation for Health, Happiness, and Meaning-Making World Journal of Yoga Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation February 13, 2020
and 27 more in the library
Cites 6
- Focused attention, open monitoring and automatic self-transcending: Categories to organize meditations from Vedic, Buddhist and Chinese traditions. Consciousness and Cognition December 2010
- A randomized controlled trial on effects of the Transcendental Meditation program on blood pressure, psychological distress, and coping in young adults. American Journal of Hypertension October 1, 2009
- Effects of Transcendental Meditation practice on brain functioning and stress reactivity in college students. International Journal of Psychophysiology February 1, 2009
- Mindfulness Meditation for Veterans— Implications for Occupational Health Providers AAOHN Journal August 1, 2008
- Autonomic and EEG patterns during eyes-closed rest and transcendental meditation (TM) practice: the basis for a neural model of TM practice. Consciousness and Cognition September 1999
and 1 more in the library