Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program to the more standard Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Prolonged Exposure (CBT-PE) in treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in war Veterans over a three month treatment period.


Clinical Trial Description

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common and debilitating anxiety condition that affects up to 20% of war Veterans. PTSD is often a chronic problem for Veterans, affecting reintegration into society, family and marital relationships, sleep, employment stability, substance abuse rates, and risk for depression and suicide, among other areas. Although several effective therapies exist to treat PTSD, research shows that up to half of patients completing these treatments continue to have elevated symptoms indicating the important need for developing additional treatment options.

In the current trial, we propose to test one such new treatment, specifically a meditation practice known as Transcendental Meditation. The Transcendental Meditation (TM) program will be compared to one of the best and most standard of PTSD therapies (Prolonged Exposure therapy), and a educational control group. This study will recruit 210 War Veterans clinically diagnosed with PTSD from the San Diego VA Healthcare System over a 4 year study period.

The intervention period will be 3 months. Study participants will be randomized equally to one of three study groups, either

1. Transcendental Meditation (TM) or

2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Prolonged Exposure (CBT-PE) or

3. Educational control group.

The primary outcome will be scores on the Clinically Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS).

Secondary outcomes will includes scores on PTSD symptoms including depression, anger, mood disturbance and quality of life.

Behavioral or lifestyle factors will also be measured including smoking, alcohol, and non-described drug usage along with compliance with each treatment.

Physiological markers of stress and disease risk will include cortisol, blood pressure, inflammatory markers and body mass.

If successful, these research findings will serve to provide key data on the feasibility and efficacy of the TM program as an alternative therapy for PTSD. The results will serve to inform policy decisions on the study and application of standardized and validated stress reduction programs in veteran populations. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT01865123
Study type Interventional
Source United States Department of Defense
Contact
Status Completed
Phase N/A
Start date June 2013
Completion date August 2016

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Recruiting NCT04317820 - Deep Brain Reorienting in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder N/A
Completed NCT05112003 - Translingual Neurostimulation for the Virtual Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Feasibility Pilot N/A
Recruiting NCT04518267 - Anger and Psychotrauma: Data From Military and Civilians
Completed NCT02502604 - Cognitive Training Program for Individuals With Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder N/A
Terminated NCT02234687 - A mGlu2/3 Agonist in the Treatment of PTSD Phase 1
Completed NCT02256566 - Cognitive Training for Mood and Anxiety Disorders N/A
Terminated NCT02520726 - PTSD Prevention Study Examining the Efficacy of Sertraline in Burn Victims Phase 4
Completed NCT02213900 - Preventing Post-Operative Delirium in Patients Undergoing a Pneumonectomy, Esophagectomy or Thoracotomy Phase 4
Completed NCT01738308 - The Effects of Healing Touch on Post Operative Pediatric Patients N/A
Completed NCT01517711 - Tramadol Extended-Release (ER) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Phase 4
Completed NCT01437891 - Sentra AM® and Sentra PM® for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Gulf War Fibromyalgia (GWF) N/A
Completed NCT01199107 - Maximizing Treatment Outcome and Examining Sleep in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Phase 3
Completed NCT01998100 - Maximizing Treatment Outcome in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Phase 3
Completed NCT01231711 - Improving Quality-of-life and Depressive Symptoms of Combat Veterans Via Internet-based Intervention Phase 1
Completed NCT00348036 - Group Intervention for Interpersonal Trauma N/A
Completed NCT00838006 - Psychophysiologic Predictors of Post-deployment Mental Health Outcomes N/A
Completed NCT00680524 - Telephone-based Care for OEF/OIF Veterans With PTSD N/A
Completed NCT00525226 - Evaluating the Effects of Stress in Pregnancy N/A
Completed NCT00158262 - Effect of Propranolol on Preventing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Phase 4
Completed NCT00183690 - Prolonged Exposure Therapy Versus Active Psychotherapy in Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Adolescents Phase 1