Evaluating the Impact of Transcendental Meditation on Trauma Symptoms, Depression, Anxiety, and Sleep Problems Among Israeli Civilians Post-October 7, 2023: A Pilot Study.

Among 39 Israeli civilians evacuated after the October 7, 2023 attacks, participation in an 8-week transcendental meditation program was associated with statistically significant decreases in symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. The pilot study used standard questionnaires (PCL-5, PHQ-9, GAD-7, ISI) and found within-group improvements from baseline to post-test. The uncontrolled design means results are preliminary and require confirmation in randomized trials.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The mass evacuation of Israeli residents from conflict zones after the events of October 7, 2023, coupled with ongoing security threats, has taken a substantial psychological toll, with many individuals exhibiting symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and sleep problems. This pilot study examined the feasibility and preliminary within-group changes associated with participation in transcendental meditation (TM), a non-pharmacological program, in relation to PTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety, and sleep problems among 39 Israeli civilians evacuated after October 7. In an 8-week intervention, we examined changes in psychological well-being using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Changes in PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms, anxiety, and sleep problems were analyzed using dependent t-tests. Additional analyses of baseline, 4-week, and 8-week post-test data used repeated-measures analysis of variance. Participants showed statistically significant within-group decreases from baseline to post-test in PTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. Findings provide preliminary support for the feasibility and acceptability of TM in trauma-exposed civilians and suggest that participation in the program was associated with improvements in psychological symptoms over time. Given the uncontrolled pilot design, these results should be interpreted cautiously and require confirmation in randomized controlled trials.