Biomarker Response to Mindfulness Intervention in Veterans Diagnosed with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.
Itamar Shapira, Joshua Richman, Thaddeus W W Pace, Kelvin O Lim, Melissa A Polusny, Mark B Hamner, J Douglas Bremner, Mercy N Mumba, M Lindsey Jacobs, Patricia Pilkinton, Lori L. Davis
Mindfulness October 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-022-01969-6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 210 |
| Population | U.S. military veterans diagnosed with PTSD |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based stress reduction Present-centered group therapy |
| Duration | 9-week primary endpoint, 16-week follow-up endpoint |
| Topics | Meditation PTSD |
| Keywords | Cortisol Inflammatory markers Mindfulness-based stress reduction Veterans |
| Registration | NCT01532999 NCT01548742 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based stress reduction led to a smaller increase in morning cortisol compared to present-centered group therapy, and increased mindfulness was associated with reduced PTSD and depression severity. |
Abstract
This study evaluates the effects of treatment with mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) compared to the active control, present-centered group therapy (PCGT), on morning plasma cortisol, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In a post hoc exploratory analysis, we pooled biomarkers and clinical outcomes of mindfulness, PTSD, and depression from two randomized controlled trials comparing MBSR (n = 104) to PCGT (n = 106) in U.S. military veterans diagnosed with PTSD. Linear mixed-effects modeling was used to evaluate associations between changes in biomarkers and clinical outcomes from baseline to 9-week primary endpoint and 16-week follow-up endpoint. Cortisol levels were inversely related to self-reported PTSD symptoms at baseline (p = 0.02). Cortisol increased from baseline to 9-week endpoint for both groups, but significantly less so in the MBSR group compared to PCGT group (mean difference 1.69 ± 0.8 SE; p = 0.035). Changes in IL-6 and CRP did not differ between groups at either baseline or week 9. From baseline to week 9, increased mindfulness was significantly associated with increased cortisol (p = 0.02) and decreased PTSD and depression severity (p < 0.01). Increased IL-6 and CRP were significantly associated with decreased PTSD severity (p < 0.05), but not depression. Pooled analysis corroborated earlier findings that MBSR is significantly better than PCGT in improving clinical outcomes. Increased mindfulness was strongly associated with improved symptoms. Increased mindfulness is associated with a recalibration of cortisol levels which may be indicative of therapeutic response, especially in patients with lower baseline cortisol. Furthermore, mindfulness-based practices improve symptoms of PTSD and depression in a significant correlation with self-reported levels of mindfulness. NCT01532999 and NCT01548742.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on PTSD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on depression, PTSD, and mindfulness among military veterans: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Psychology Open 2024
- Serotonin Transporter (SLC6A4) and FK506-Binding Protein 5 (FKBP5) Genotype and Methylation Relationships with Response to Meditation in Veterans with PTSD. Molecular Neurobiology November 1, 2024
- Enhancing psychological health and cognitive inhibition in college students: insights from mindfulness training and high-intensity interval training. Frontiers in Psychology 2025
- Inflammatory biomarker outcomes associated with MDMA-assisted therapy: an open-label exploratory study. Frontiers in Neuroscience 2026
- A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Therapy Intervention on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Cureus October 1, 2025
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