Mantram Repetition Program (MRP) is a meditation practice that involves silent repetition of a spiritual word, one-pointed attention, and slowing down. It has been shown to help reduce PTSD symptoms among Veterans. This study will look at how Veterans reach to learning MRP via the Internet, either in a self-directed way or with text/phone support.
Easily accessible interventions to address post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can play critical role in reducing PTSD and associated symptoms in Veterans, especially for those who remain symptomatic after treatment with other evidence-based interventions, those who prefer complimentary and integrative therapies, or those who have difficulty accessing traditional face-to-face mental health services. The value of these programs is their ability to provide Veterans with more options in their recovery journey and to reach a broad range of Veterans across multiple settings, including remote rural contexts. The Mantram Repetition Program (MRP) is a meditation-based practice that consists of the repetition of a spiritual word, one-pointed attention, and slowing down. MRP has been shown to reduce stress in several high-risk populations, and two large randomized, controlled studies show that MRP reduces PTSD symptoms among Veterans. A brief, web-based, self-directed version of MRP has been developed to increase the accessibility of evidence-based PTSD treatment. This version of MRP was tested in a pilot study with undergraduate students, demonstrating its ease of use and success in getting students to engage with the practice. The proposed mixed method study will use the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework to evaluate the mobile MRP in Veterans with PTSD in two conditions: self-directed and with text/phone support. Data from this pilot study will inform the refinement of the MRP delivery strategy and the development of a full-scale trial to test its effectiveness and implementation outcomes, as well as barriers and facilitators, and other contextual factors.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
36
Internet-based instruction in a meditation practice that involves silent repetition of a spiritual word, one-pointed attention and slowing down
VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
San Diego, California, United States
Eligibility Rate
Rate of eligibility among those screened for participation
Time frame: Day 0
Initiation Rate
Rate of intervention initiation among eligible Veterans
Time frame: Day 1
Completion Rate
Rate of intervention completion among eligible Veterans
Time frame: Day 28
Credibility
Average Veteran perception of the logic, utility and expected benefit of treatment rated on a scale of 0 (not at all) to 8 (very)
Time frame: Day 1
Abbreviated Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8)
Degree of satisfaction with care received as measured by 4 items from the CSQ-8, creating a 4-item total score. Scores range from 4-16 with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction.
Time frame: Day 28
Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM)
Perceived acceptability of the intervention as measured by an AIM average score. Scores range from 1-5 with higher scores indicating greater acceptability.
Time frame: Day 28
Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM)
Perceived appropriateness of the intervention as measured by an IAM average score. Scores range from 1-5 with higher scores indicating greater appropriateness.
Time frame: Day 28
Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM)
Perceived feasibility of the intervention as measured by an FIM average score. Scores range from 1-5 with higher scores indicating greater feasibility.
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Time frame: Day 28
Mantram Practice
Frequency of mantram practice in the past week as 0-7 days
Time frame: Day 28
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)
PTSD symptoms at post-treatment as measured by the PCL-5 total score. Scores range from 0-80 with higher scores indicating greater PTSD symptoms.
Time frame: Day 28
Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Items (PHQ-9)
Depression at post-treatment as measured by the PHQ-9 total score. Scores range from 0-27 with higher scores indicating greater depression.
Time frame: Day 28
Insomnia Severity Index
Insomnia at post-treatment as measured by the ISI total score. Scores range from 0-28 with higher scores indicating greater insomnia.
Time frame: Day 28