Evaluating the Impact of Transcendental Meditation on Trauma Symptoms, Depression, Anxiety, and Sleep Problems Among Israeli Civilians Post-October 7, 2023: A Pilot Study.
Ofra Walter, Sanford Nidich, Kimia Shahrokhi
Journal of Clinical Psychology June 29, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.70172 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot study Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 39 |
| Population | Israeli civilians evacuated after October 7, 2023 |
| Intervention | Transcendental meditation |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Israeli–palestinian conflict Civilian evacuations Displaced populations Mental health interventions Psychological resilience Stress management Transcendental meditation tm War trauma |
| Key points | Participation in transcendental meditation was associated with statistically significant decreases in PTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety, and sleep problems among trauma-exposed civilians. |
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.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 11
- Effects of the Transcendental Meditation Technique on Trait Anxiety: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine October 9, 2013
- Neurophysiological, cognitive-behavioral and neurochemical effects in practitioners of transcendental meditation - A literature review Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira May 1, 2019
- Clinical Nurse Well-being Improved Through Transcendental Meditation: A Multimethod Randomized Controlled Trial. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration 2024
- A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Transcendental Meditation as Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans. Journal of Traumatic Stress February 1, 2022
- Reductions in perceived stress following Transcendental Meditation practice are associated with increased brain regional connectivity at rest. Brain and Cognition January 13, 2020
and 6 more in the library