Compassion Meditation for PTSD

Recruiting at1 trial location

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Recruiting

Sponsor: Veterans Medical Research Foundation

Disqualifiers: Serious suicidality, Untreated substance use, others

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Compassion meditation (CM) is a contemplative practice that builds compassion for and connectedness with others. CM has shown promise as a way of enhancing recovery for Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The proposed project will examine the feasibility of a clinical trial by assessing our ability to deliver CM and a control intervention consistently with a diverse groups of Veterans from different parts of the country and optimizing the way in which outcomes are determined.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, you cannot be enrolled in other PTSD treatments or meditation-based practices while participating.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Compassion Meditation for PTSD?

Research shows that compassion meditation and loving-kindness meditation can help reduce PTSD symptoms and depression, as seen in studies with veterans. These practices increase self-compassion and mindfulness, which are linked to improvements in mental health. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is compassion meditation safe for humans?

Research on compassion meditation, including studies with veterans with PTSD and health professionals, suggests it is generally safe and well-tolerated. Participants in these studies reported improvements in symptoms and well-being without significant adverse effects. ^{2 3 6 7 8}

How does compassion meditation treatment differ from other PTSD treatments?

Compassion meditation for PTSD is unique because it focuses on cultivating compassion for oneself and others, which can help reduce symptoms by enhancing self-compassion and mindfulness. Unlike traditional PTSD treatments, it involves meditation practices like loving-kindness meditation and Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT®), which are designed to stabilize attention and develop present-moment awareness. ^{2 3 5 7 9}

Research Team

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for Veterans who can consent and have PTSD or similar symptoms causing distress. They must not be in another PTSD treatment or meditation practice, have untreated serious mental illness, cognitive issues that affect participation, untreated substance problems, or severe suicidal/homicidal thoughts.

Inclusion Criteria

Able/willing to consent

Veteran status

I am experiencing PTSD or symptoms of PTSD that affect my daily life.

Exclusion Criteria

My thinking or memory problems do not interfere with daily activities.

I am currently participating in another PTSD treatment or meditation practice.

I do not have an untreated or unstable serious mental illness.

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive Compassion Meditation or Applied Relaxation interventions over 10 weeks

10 weeks

10 sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Applied relaxation (Behavioral Intervention)
• Compassion meditation (Behavioral Intervention)

Trial Overview The study tests Compassion Meditation (CM) against Applied Relaxation to see if CM helps Veterans with PTSD recover better. It's a test run to see if the methods work well across different locations and how best to measure their effects.

Participant Groups

Group I: Compassion meditation Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Compassion meditation is a contemplative meditation practice that fosters compassion through contemplation of common humanity.

Group II: Applied relaxation Active Control 1 Intervention

Veteran.calm is an applied relaxation program that exposes participants to a variety of relaxation strategies and their application.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Veterans Medical Research Foundation

Lead Sponsor

Trials

46

Recruited

5,100+

Veterans Health Research Institute of CNY

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

140+

Institute for Medical Research, Inc.

Industry Sponsor

Trials

2

Recruited

260+

Emory University

Collaborator

Trials

1,735

Recruited

2,605,000+

Dr. R. Donald Harvey

Emory University

Chief Medical Officer

MD from Emory University School of Medicine

Dr. George Painter

Emory University

Chief Executive Officer since 2013

PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from Emory University

Bedford Research Corporation, Inc.

Collaborator

Trials

4

Recruited

1,600+

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Collaborator

Trials

886

Recruited

677,000+

Dr. Amy P. Patterson

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Chief Medical Officer

MD from Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Helene Langevin

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Chief Executive Officer since 2018

MD from McGill University

Findings from Research

An abbreviated Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program consisting of 6 weekly 75-minute sessions can effectively be implemented during staff lunch breaks, making it a practical training option for healthcare providers and clinic staff.

This adapted MBSR program is not only feasible but also well-accepted, suggesting it could enhance the well-being of healthcare workers in a workplace setting.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Health Care Staff: Expanding Holistic Nursing Paradigms to the Whole System. Hazlett-Stevens, H.[2021]

Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT®) significantly increased self-compassion and reduced perceived stress among participants, with a notable improvement in emotional well-being measured over three time points in a study involving 65 individuals.

The training not only enhanced individual emotional health but also fostered greater community engagement, suggesting that CBCT® can be an effective intervention for promoting social well-being in vulnerable populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Cognitively Based Compassion Training in the outskirts: A mixed study. Kolchraiber, FC., Tanaka, LH., Negi, LT., et al.[2023]

A short-term online version of Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) significantly increased compassion levels in both Sri Lankan and UK participants, demonstrating its effectiveness across cultures.

The study, which included 211 participants in total, showed that the benefits of CMT in reducing distress and enhancing well-being were maintained even two weeks after the intervention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring the Cross-cultural Applicability of a Brief Compassionate Mind Training: a Study Comparing Sri Lankan and UK People. Kariyawasam, L., Ononaiye, M., Irons, C., et al.[2023]

A 12-week loving-kindness meditation program for veterans with PTSD showed significant improvements, with a large effect size in reducing PTSD symptoms (d = -0.89) and a medium effect size in reducing depression (d = -0.49) at the 3-month follow-up.

The study found that increased self-compassion played a key role in mediating the reductions in PTSD and depression symptoms, suggesting that loving-kindness meditation is a safe and effective intervention for enhancing mental health in veterans.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Loving-kindness meditation for posttraumatic stress disorder: a pilot study. Kearney, DJ., Malte, CA., McManus, C., et al.[2022]

Meditation-based approaches, including mindfulness, mantra, and compassion meditation, are increasingly sought after for managing PTSD, despite limited rigorous research on their effectiveness.

While empirical evidence for the efficacy of meditation in treating PTSD is scarce, the existing studies suggest potential benefits, indicating that further evaluation of these treatments is necessary.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The theoretical and empirical basis for meditation as an intervention for PTSD. Lang, AJ., Strauss, JL., Bomyea, J., et al.[2021]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Health Care Staff: Expanding Holistic Nursing Paradigms to the Whole System. [2021]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Compassion Meditation for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans: A Randomized Proof of Concept Study. [2020]

3. Brazil pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Cognitively Based Compassion Training in the outskirts: A mixed study. [2023]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring the Cross-cultural Applicability of a Brief Compassionate Mind Training: a Study Comparing Sri Lankan and UK People. [2023]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Loving-kindness meditation for posttraumatic stress disorder: a pilot study. [2022]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cognitively-Based Compassion Training versus cancer health education to improve health-related quality of life in survivors of solid tumor cancers and their informal caregivers: study protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial. [2020]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Compassion Meditation for Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): a Nonrandomized Study. [2022]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Online Training in Specific Meditation Practices Improves Gratitude, Well-Being, Self-Compassion, and Confidence in Providing Compassionate Care Among Health Professionals. [2022]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The theoretical and empirical basis for meditation as an intervention for PTSD. [2021]