Impact of Transcendental Meditation on Psychotropic Medication Use Among Active Duty Military Service Members With Anxiety and PTSD.

Regular practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM) reduced the need for psychotropic medications and improved psychological wellbeing in military Service Members with PTSD or anxiety disorder. After one month, 83.7% of the TM group stabilized, decreased, or stopped medications, compared with 59.4% of controls; 10.8% of the TM group increased medication dosage versus 40.5% of controls. A similar pattern continued at 2, 3, and 6 months. The control group experienced a 20.5% greater increase in symptom severity over six months. TM appears to be a viable treatment for reducing PTSD and anxiety symptoms and associated medication use in military settings.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine whether the regular practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM) decreased the need for psychotropic medications required for anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) management and increased psychological wellbeing. The sample included 74 military Service Members with documented PTSD or anxiety disorder not otherwise specified (ADNOS), 37 that practiced TM and 37 that did not. At 1 month, 83.7% of the TM group stabilized, decreased, or ceased medications and 10.8% increased medication dosage; compared with 59.4% of controls that showed stabilizations, decreases, or cessations; and 40.5% that increased medications (p < 0.03). A similar pattern was observed after 2 (p < 0.27), 3 (p < 0.002), and 6 months (p < 0.34). Notably, there was a 20.5% difference between groups in severity of psychological symptoms after 6 months, that is, the control group experienced an increase in symptom severity compared with the group practicing TM. These findings provide insight into the benefits of TM as a viable treatment modality in military treatment facilities for reducing PTSD and ADNOS psychological symptoms and associated medication use.