A pilot study of group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and clinical outcomes of an MBCT group intervention adapted for combat PTSD.
Results Summary
MBCT showed significant improvement in PTSD symptoms, particularly in avoidance/numbing symptoms and reduced PTSD-relevant cognitions, compared to the TAU group. The intervention was well-accepted, with good compliance and clinically meaningful improvements.
Population
Combat veterans with chronic PTSD seeking treatment at a VA outpatient clinic.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
8 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness-based interventions | decrease | stress | general medical conditions | - | show promise for stress reduction | #1 |
Mindfulness-based interventions | neutral | - | trauma-exposed individuals | - | are accepted | #2 |
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) | decrease | depression relapse | - | - | shows substantial efficacy for prevention of depression relapse | #3 |
MBCT group intervention adapted for combat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | neutral | - | combat PTSD | - | investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and clinical outcomes | #4 |
8-week MBCT groups, modified for PTSD | decrease | PTSD | patients seeking treatment for chronic PTSD at a VA outpatient clinic | - | showed significant improvement in PTSD | #5 |
brief treatment-as-usual (TAU) comparison group interventions | no change | PTSD | patients seeking treatment for chronic PTSD at a VA outpatient clinic | - | not significant improvement in PTSD | #6 |
MBCT | increase | compliance with assigned homework exercises | MBCT completers | - | showed good compliance with assigned homework exercises | #7 |
MBCT | decrease | PTSD symptom severity | MBCT completers | - | showed significant and clinically meaningful improvement in PTSD symptom severity | #8 |
MBCT | decrease | avoidance/numbing symptoms | MBCT completers | - | showed significant and clinically meaningful improvement in avoidance/numbing symptoms | #9 |
MBCT | decrease | PTSD-relevant cognitions (self blame) | MBCT completers | - | reduced PTSD-relevant cognitions in PTCI (self blame) | #10 |
group MBCT | neutral | - | combat PTSD | - | as an acceptable brief intervention/adjunctive therapy for combat PTSD | #11 |
group MBCT | decrease | avoidance symptom cluster | combat PTSD | - | with potential for reducing avoidance symptom cluster | #12 |
group MBCT | decrease | PTSD cognitions | combat PTSD | - | with potential for reducing PTSD cognitions | #13 |
BACKGROUND: "Mindfulness-based" interventions show promise for stress reduction in general medical conditions, and initial evidence suggests that they are accepted in trauma-exposed individuals. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) shows substantial efficacy for prevention of depression relapse, but it has been less studied in anxiety disorders. This study investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and clinical outcomes of an MBCT group intervention adapted for combat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHODS: Consecutive patients seeking treatment for chronic PTSD at a VA outpatient clinic were enrolled in 8-week MBCT groups, modified for PTSD (four groups, n = 20) or brief treatment-as-usual (TAU) comparison group interventions (three groups, n = 17). Pre and posttherapy psychological assessments with clinician administered PTSD scale (CAPS) were performed with all patients, and self-report measures (PTSD diagnostic scale, PDS, and posttraumatic cognitions inventory, PTCI) were administered in the MBCT group. RESULTS: Intent to treat analyses showed significant improvement in PTSD (CAPS (t(19) = 4.8, P < .001)) in the MBCT condition but not the TAU conditions, and a significant Condition × Time interaction (F[1,35] = 16.4, P < .005). MBCT completers (n = 15, 75%) showed good compliance with assigned homework exercises, and significant and clinically meaningful improvement in PTSD symptom severity on posttreatment assessment in CAPS and PDS (particularly in avoidance/numbing symptoms), and reduced PTSD-relevant cognitions in PTCI (self blame). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest group MBCT as an acceptable brief intervention/adjunctive therapy for combat PTSD, with potential for reducing avoidance symptom cluster and PTSD cognitions. Further studies are needed to examine efficacy in a randomized controlled design and to identify factors influencing acceptability and efficacy.