Loving-Kindness Meditation vs Cognitive Processing Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Veterans

For veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), group loving-kindness meditation works about as well as group cognitive processing therapy. In a randomized clinical trial with 184 veterans, the reductions in PTSD and depression symptoms from the start of treatment to six months later were very similar for both groups, and the small differences fell within a range considered not meaningfully different. More veterans attended the loving-kindness meditation sessions than the cognitive processing therapy sessions. These results suggest that meditation-based interventions that do not specifically focus on trauma can produce outcomes comparable to trauma-focused therapies.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Key Points Question Is group loving-kindness meditation noninferior to group cognitive processing therapy for treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans? Findings In this randomized clinical trial, 184 veterans with PTSD were assigned to group loving-kindness meditation or group cognitive processing therapy; the differences in the decrease from baseline to 6-month follow-up for measures of PTSD and depression were very similar and within predefined margins considered not meaningfully different. Attendance was better for loving-kindness meditation. Meaning This study adds to the evidence indicating that interventions without a specific focus on trauma, including meditation-based interventions, can yield results similar to trauma-focused therapies.