A Multisite Randomized Controlled Trial of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Lori L. Davis, Charles Whetsell, Mark B Hamner, James Carmody, Barbara O Rothbaum, Rebecca S Allen, A B P P Al Bartolucci, Steven M. Southwick, J Douglas Bremner
Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice October 1, 2019 DOI: 10.1176/appi.prcp.20180002 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 214 |
| Population | U.S. military veterans with a diagnosis of PTSD |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based stress reduction Present-centered group therapy |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, follow-up at week 16 |
| Topics | Meditation PTSD |
| Key findings | Both MBSR and PCGT produced significant improvement in PTSD symptoms, with no significant difference between groups on the clinician-administered CAPS-IV scale, but MBSR showed greater improvement on self-reported PTSD symptoms during treatment. |
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often difficult to treat, and many patients do not achieve full remission. Complementary and integrative health approaches, such as mindfulness meditation, are intended to be integrated with evidence-based treatment. This study examined the efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in the treatment of PTSD in U.S. military veterans. Veterans with a diagnosis of PTSD (N=214) were randomly assigned to either 90-minute group MBSR or present-centered group therapy (PCGT) for eight weeks. Follow-up assessments were obtained at baseline and weeks 3, 6, 9 (primary endpoint), and 16. Both the MBSR and PCGT groups achieved significant improvement in PTSD as measured by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-IV (CAPS-IV), with no statistically significant differences between groups. However, compared with PCGT, the MBSR group showed a statistically significant improvement in PTSD on the self-reported PTSD Checklist for DSM-IV over the nine weeks. This difference was not maintained posttreatment, at week 16. Strengths of the study include its large sample size, multisite design, active control group, single-blind outcome ratings, fidelity monitoring, large minority representation, and randomized approach. The study was limited by its high attrition rate and low representation of women. Both MBSR and PCGT appear to have beneficial effects in treating PTSD in veterans, with greater improvement observed in self-reported PTSD symptoms in the MBSR group. No differences between groups were observed on the CAPS-IV scale.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on PTSD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 17
- 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
- Randomized controlled trials of mind-body interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology 2023
- Effectiveness of Meditation Techniques in Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) December 12, 2024
- Resolution of Dissociated Ego States Relieves Flashback-Related Symptoms in Combat-Related PTSD: A Brief Mindfulness Based Intervention. Military psychology : the official journal of the Division of Military Psychology, American Psychological Association 2020
- Effects of Short Video App Guided Mindfulness Meditation on Policemen's Communication Anxiety, PTSD, Anger Management, and Mood Disorders. Healthcare May 21, 2025
and 12 more in the library
Cites 15
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- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Stress Reduction through Mindfulness Meditation Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics February 18, 2010
and 10 more in the library