Effects of participation in a mindfulness program for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled pilot study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess the outcomes of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for veterans with PTSD, comparing it to treatment as usual (TAU).
Results Summary
Intention-to-treat analyses found no reliable effects of MBSR on PTSD or depression, though mental HRQOL improved posttreatment (but not at 4 months). Completer analyses showed medium to large effect sizes for depression, mental HRQOL, and mindfulness skills.
Population
Veterans with PTSD (37 male, 32 Caucasian).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Posttreatment and 4-month follow-up (exact intervention duration not specified).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) plus treatment as usual (TAU) | no change | PTSD | veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | no reliable effects | found no reliable effects | #1 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) plus treatment as usual (TAU) | no change | depression | veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | no reliable effects | found no reliable effects | #2 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) plus treatment as usual (TAU) | increase | mental health-related quality of life (HRQOL) | veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | - | improved | #3 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) plus treatment as usual (TAU) | no change | mental health-related quality of life (HRQOL) | veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | no reliable effect | there was no reliable effect | #4 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) plus treatment as usual (TAU) | increase | mental health-related quality of life (HRQOL) | veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | clinically meaningful change | more veterans randomized to MBSR had clinically meaningful change | #5 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) plus treatment as usual (TAU) | increase | both mental HRQOL and PTSD symptoms | veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | clinically meaningful change | more veterans randomized to MBSR had clinically meaningful change | #6 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) plus treatment as usual (TAU) | increase | depression | veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who completed ≥ 4 classes | medium to large | showed medium to large between group effect sizes | #7 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) plus treatment as usual (TAU) | increase | mental health-related quality of life (HRQOL) | veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who completed ≥ 4 classes | medium to large | showed medium to large between group effect sizes | #8 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) plus treatment as usual (TAU) | increase | mindfulness skills | veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who completed ≥ 4 classes | medium to large | showed medium to large between group effect sizes | #9 |
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.