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Effects of participation in a mindfulness program for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled pilot study.

David J. Kearney, Kelly McDermott, Carol A. Malte, Michelle E. Martinez, Tracy L. Simpson

Journal of Clinical Psychology January 2013 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.21911 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Pilot study Peer reviewed
Sample size 47
Population Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; 37 male, 32 Caucasian)
Interventions Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) treatment as usual
Duration Assessments at baseline, posttreatment, and 4-month follow-up
Topics Meditation PTSD
Key findings Intention-to-treat analyses found no reliable effects of MBSR on PTSD or depression, though mental HRQOL improved posttreatment without a reliable effect at 4 months. At 4-month follow-up, more veterans randomized to MBSR showed clinically meaningful change in mental HRQOL and in both mental HRQOL and PTSD symptoms. Completer analyses showed medium to large between-group effect sizes for depression, mental HRQOL, and mindfulness skills.

Abstract

To assess outcomes associated with Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for veterans with PTSD. Forty-seven veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; 37 male, 32 Caucasian) were randomized to treatment as usual (TAU; n = 22), or MBSR plus TAU (n = 25). PTSD, depression, and mental health-related quality of life (HRQOL) were assessed at baseline, posttreatment, and 4-month follow-up. Standardized effect sizes and the proportion with clinically meaningful changes in outcomes were calculated. Intention-to-treat analyses found no reliable effects of MBSR on PTSD or depression. Mental HRQOL improved posttreatment but there was no reliable effect at 4 months. At 4-month follow-up, more veterans randomized to MBSR had clinically meaningful change in mental HRQOL, and in both mental HRQOL and PTSD symptoms. Completer analyses (≥ 4 classes attended) showed medium to large between group effect sizes for depression, mental HRQOL, and mindfulness skills. Additional studies are warranted to assess MBSR for veterans with PTSD.

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on PTSD, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Patients with severe PTSD, including those with comorbidities such as dissociation,... 2021 Randomized controlled trial n = 90
The safety and efficacy of {+/-}3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy in subjects with chronic, treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder: the first randomized controlled pilot study. Patients with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder refractory to both psychotherapy... 2010 Randomized controlled trial n = 20
Efficacy of Intravenous Ketamine for Treatment of Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Patients with chronic PTSD related to a range of trauma exposures 2014 Randomized controlled trial n = 41
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans, firefighters, and police officers: a randomised, double-blind, dose-response, phase 2 clinical trial. Military veterans and first responders aged 18 or older with chronic PTSD lasting 6... 2018 Randomized, double-blind, dose-response, phase 2 clinical trial n = 26
A randomized, controlled pilot study of MDMA (±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine)-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of resistant, chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Patients with treatment-resistant PTSD 2012 Randomized controlled trial n = 12

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