Compassion Meditation for Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): a Nonrandomized Study.
Ariel J Lang, Pollyanna Casmar, Samantha Hurst, Timothy Harrison, Shahrokh Golshan, Raquel C Good, Michael Essex, Lobsang Negi
Mindfulness 2020 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-017-0866-z (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Open trial Randomized Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 36 |
| Population | Veterans with PTSD |
| Duration | 8-10 sessions, each lasting 90-120 minutes |
| Topics | Meditation PTSD |
| Keywords | Compassion |
| Key findings | Participation in CBCT-Vet was associated with reduced symptoms of PTSD and depression, but not with changes in positive emotion or social connectedness. |
Abstract
Compassion meditation (CM) is a contemplative practice that is intended to cultivate the ability to extend and sustain compassion toward self and others. Although research documents the benefits of CM in healthy populations, its use in the context of psychopathology is largely unexamined. The purpose of this study was to refine and initially evaluate a CM protocol, Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT®), for use with Veterans with PTSD. To this end, our research team developed and refined a manualized protocol, CBCT-Vet, over 4 sets of groups involving 36 Veterans. This protocol was delivered in 8-10 sessions, each lasting 90-120 min and led by a CBCT®-trained clinical psychologist. Quantitative and qualitative data were used to identify areas to be improved and to assess change that occurred during the treatment period. Based on pooled data from this series of groups, CM appears to be acceptable to Veterans with PTSD. Group participation was associated with reduced symptoms of PTSD (partial eta squared = .27) and depression (partial eta squared = .19), but causality should not be inferred given the nonrandomized design. No change was observed in additional outcomes, including positive emotion and social connectedness. The results of this open trial support additional exploration of CM as part of the recovery process for Veterans with PTSD.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on PTSD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 11
- Compassion Meditation for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans: A Randomized Proof of Concept Study Journal of Traumatic Stress March 31, 2019
- Effectiveness of Meditation Techniques in Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) December 12, 2024
- Loving-Kindness Meditation: Systematic Review of Neuroimaging Correlates in Long-Term Practitioners and Clinical Implications. Brain and Behavior March 1, 2025
- Compassion Meditation for Distressed Older Veterans: A Feasibility Study. Clinical Gerontologist 2025
- The effectiveness of second-generation mindfulness interventions on anxiety and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review February 1, 2026
and 6 more in the library
Cites 11
- Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. Emotion October 1, 2008
- The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic review Frontiers in Psychology November 3, 2015
- Loving‐Kindness Meditation for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Pilot Study Journal of Traumatic Stress July 25, 2013
- Compassion meditation enhances empathic accuracy and related neural activity Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience September 5, 2012
- Brain Activation During Compassion Meditation: A Case Study The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine May 1, 2010
and 6 more in the library