Use of Mindfulness Meditation With Iraqi/Afghanistan War Veterans
| Status: | Withdrawn |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Psychiatric, Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 55 |
| Updated: | 1/31/2018 |
| Start Date: | October 2006 |
| End Date: | August 2007 |
Use of Mindfulness Meditation With Iraqi/Afghanistan War Veterans With Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to conduct a randomized pilot study on the
efficacy of Mindfulness Meditation (MfM) on sleep in post war Iraqi/Afghanistan veterans with
PTSD. It is hypothesized that the change in sleep (measured by actigraphy), sleep self report
measures, and PTSD symptoms (measured by the PTSD Checklist) from baseline, 8 weeks and 12
weeks will be greater for veterans with PTSD who are treated with MfM, controlling for
pretreatment values and other clinical and demographic factors.
A secondary objective will investigate whether there is an improvement in psychological
wellness (measured by optimism, perceived wellness, and spirituality) following MfM
treatments.
It is hypothesized that change in optimism, perceived wellness, and spirituality from
baseline, 8 weeks and 12 weeks will improve in veterans with PTSD who are treated with MfM,
controlling for pretreatment values and other clinical and demographic factors. Physiological
measures of actigraphy in the home will be done at baseline, eight weeks, and twelve weeks.
Subjective measure of sleep include measurements of sleep and quality of life(FOSQ) and
subjective sleep quality (PSQI). Other self-report measures that will examine psychological
wellness include the Life Orientation Test (LOT), the Perceived Wellness Survey (PWS) and the
Spirituality Assessment Scale (SAS).
efficacy of Mindfulness Meditation (MfM) on sleep in post war Iraqi/Afghanistan veterans with
PTSD. It is hypothesized that the change in sleep (measured by actigraphy), sleep self report
measures, and PTSD symptoms (measured by the PTSD Checklist) from baseline, 8 weeks and 12
weeks will be greater for veterans with PTSD who are treated with MfM, controlling for
pretreatment values and other clinical and demographic factors.
A secondary objective will investigate whether there is an improvement in psychological
wellness (measured by optimism, perceived wellness, and spirituality) following MfM
treatments.
It is hypothesized that change in optimism, perceived wellness, and spirituality from
baseline, 8 weeks and 12 weeks will improve in veterans with PTSD who are treated with MfM,
controlling for pretreatment values and other clinical and demographic factors. Physiological
measures of actigraphy in the home will be done at baseline, eight weeks, and twelve weeks.
Subjective measure of sleep include measurements of sleep and quality of life(FOSQ) and
subjective sleep quality (PSQI). Other self-report measures that will examine psychological
wellness include the Life Orientation Test (LOT), the Perceived Wellness Survey (PWS) and the
Spirituality Assessment Scale (SAS).
Research Design: This exploratory study is a randomized, controlled, repeated measures trial
to estimate the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation (MfM) to improve the severity of PTSD
symptoms, specifically sleep and anxiety, and to improve the psychological wellbeing in Iraqi
veterans with PTSD. The study is a repeated measures, comparative study using a parallel
design. Both groups will receive routine treatment for PTSD; in addition, the treatment group
will receive 8 weeks (1.5 hours/week) of mindfulness meditation from a trained psychologist,
(Co-PI, N Chychula) who has been conducting these mindfulness meditation groups with combat
veterans for 3 years. Subjects will be asked to commit to practice mindfulness meditation
practice for 45 minutes each day. Data will be collected at baseline, eight weeks, and twelve
weeks (one month follow-up). An equal number of participants will be randomly assigned to
each group with 15 assigned to each group.
Methodology: For purposes of this pilot study, mindfulness meditation will be delivered in
the context of a structured manual driven program, developed to enhance awareness of
moment-to-moment experience of perceived mental processes. Although rooted in Buddhist
traditions, this program is not religious but aims to create a greater awareness of body
sensations, feelings and thoughts. This is thought to allow greater perception of one's
responses and a gradual reduction in negative affect accompanied by an improvement in
vitality and coping and psychological wellbeing (Grossman, 2004).
to estimate the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation (MfM) to improve the severity of PTSD
symptoms, specifically sleep and anxiety, and to improve the psychological wellbeing in Iraqi
veterans with PTSD. The study is a repeated measures, comparative study using a parallel
design. Both groups will receive routine treatment for PTSD; in addition, the treatment group
will receive 8 weeks (1.5 hours/week) of mindfulness meditation from a trained psychologist,
(Co-PI, N Chychula) who has been conducting these mindfulness meditation groups with combat
veterans for 3 years. Subjects will be asked to commit to practice mindfulness meditation
practice for 45 minutes each day. Data will be collected at baseline, eight weeks, and twelve
weeks (one month follow-up). An equal number of participants will be randomly assigned to
each group with 15 assigned to each group.
Methodology: For purposes of this pilot study, mindfulness meditation will be delivered in
the context of a structured manual driven program, developed to enhance awareness of
moment-to-moment experience of perceived mental processes. Although rooted in Buddhist
traditions, this program is not religious but aims to create a greater awareness of body
sensations, feelings and thoughts. This is thought to allow greater perception of one's
responses and a gradual reduction in negative affect accompanied by an improvement in
vitality and coping and psychological wellbeing (Grossman, 2004).
INCLUSION CRITERIA:
- Iraqi War veterans who have returned from deployment for at least 3 months
- The veterans must be willing to practice MfM for 45 minutes each day and agree to
follow all treatment protocols.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
Patients with a documented diagnosis of:
- a thought disorder
- a bipolar disorder
- a borderline personality disorder
- active substance abuse/dependence,
Patients that are:
- homeless
- have pending legal dispositions
- are unable to hear, read, visualize, and/or comprehend the assessment
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