Investigators will recruit up to 20 veterans with PTSD. Participants will be randomized into two conditions: MBSR and Health and Wellness Education (HWE; control group). Participants will be randomized at a 1:1 ratio. Purpose of the study is to learn how mindfulness meditation may be helpful in treating PTSD. Participants will undergo 2 screening sessions, 8 weekly sessions of intervention (MBSR or HWE), 3 laboratory visits that will include completing survey questionnaires, stress test and recording of heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
7
MBSR consists of weekly two-hour sessions for eight weeks, and a 7.5 hour retreat between weeks 6 and 7. The MBSR intervention will be facilitated by an experienced and certified MBSR teacher. MBSR curriculum strongly encourages completion of home practice assignments (\~30 minutes daily) to help integration of concepts into daily life. Participants will receive audio CDs and a DVD to help guide home practice.
HWE is a didactic-based group intervention designed as an active comparator for randomized-controlled trials of MBSR. HWE provides instruction to participants regarding improving their emotional and physical health. In contrast to MBSR, there are no attempts to train participants' breathing, movement, or meditation habits or practices. HWE is administered in 8 weekly 2.5-hour classes with home practice to be completed between sessions (matched to MBSR for amount and effort). HWE also features one extended 7.5-hour retreat, similar to MBSR.84 Dr. Autumn Gallegos (consultant) has conducted trials of MBSR among veterans with PTSD using a HWE control group, and will provide mentorship to the PI in administering the HWE intervention. Dr. Kaplan and a trained RA will facilitate HWE.
OHSU
Portland, Oregon, United States
Qualitative Interview Targeting Feasibility of MBSR
Qualitative data generated via focus group interviews. Questions will include common barriers to completing the intervention and strategies utilized by participants to maximize adherence.
Time frame: 2 weeks post conclusion of intervention
Qualitative Interview Targeting Acceptability of MBSR
Qualitative data generated via focus group interviews. Questions will include ratings of the relevance of the content presented to participants' lives, as well as assessment of the method of presentation.
Time frame: 2 weeks post conclusion of intervention. Data were not collected due to prematurely study closure due to PI change of career.
Psychological Resilience 1
Measured by self-report measure: Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). Scale ranges from 1-5 and higher scores indicate higher psychological resilience.
Time frame: Pre (week 0), mid (week 4), and post intervention (week 10). Data were not collected due to prematurely study closure due to PI change of career.
Blood Pressure Reactivity
Reactivity of physiological parameters (e.g., systolic and diastolic blood pressure) to a cognitive stress task.
Time frame: Pre (week 0), mid (week 4), and post intervention (week 10).
PTSD Symptoms 1
Measured by a self-report questionnaire: the PTSD Symptom Checklist (PCL). Scores range from 0-4 and higher scores indicate more severe PTSD symptoms.
Time frame: Pre (week 0), mid (week 4), and post intervention (week 10).
Psychological Resilience 2
Measured by self-report measure: Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Scores range from 0-4 and higher scores indicate higher psychological resilience.
Time frame: Pre (week 0), mid (week 4), and post intervention (week 10).
PTSD Symptoms
Measured a clinician-administered semi-structured interview: the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5). Symptoms are rated for severity (0-absent; 1-mild/subthreshold; 2-moderate/threshold; 3-severe/markedly elevated; 4-extreme/incapacitating) and the presence of distress (minimal; clearly present; pronounced; extreme). Symptom clusters are also rated for the likelihood that they are related to the index trauma (definite; probable; unlikely).
Time frame: Pre (week 0), mid (week 4), and post intervention (week 10).
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