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

J Clin Psychol. 2013 Jan;69(1):14-27. doi: 10.1002/jclp.21911. Epub 2012 Aug 28.

Abstract

Objective: To assess outcomes associated with Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for veterans with PTSD.

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusions: Additional studies are warranted to assess MBSR for veterans with PTSD.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00880152.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Checklist
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meditation / methods*
  • Middle Aged
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Pilot Projects
  • Quality of Life
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / physiopathology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / therapy*
  • Stress, Psychological / therapy
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Veterans / psychology*
  • Washington

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00880152