Compassion Meditation for PTSD
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
+1 other 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?
Is compassion meditation safe for humans?
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.23579
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.
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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 OverviewThe 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
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Compassion meditationExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Compassion meditation is a contemplative meditation practice that fosters compassion through contemplation of common humanity.
Group II: Applied relaxationActive Control1 Intervention
Veteran.calm is an applied relaxation program that exposes participants to a variety of relaxation strategies and their application.
Applied relaxation is already approved in United States for the following indications:
🇺🇸 Approved in United States as Compassion Meditation for:
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
VA Finger Lakes HCSCanandaigua, NY
Durham VA Health Care SystemDurham, NC
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Veterans Medical Research Foundation
Lead Sponsor
Trials
46
Patients Recruited
5,100+
Veterans Health Research Institute of CNY
Collaborator
Trials
1
Patients Recruited
140+
Institute for Medical Research, Inc.
Industry Sponsor
Trials
2
Patients Recruited
260+
Emory University
Collaborator
Trials
1735
Patients Recruited
2,605,000+
Bedford Research Corporation, Inc.
Collaborator
Trials
4
Patients Recruited
1,600+
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Collaborator
Trials
886
Patients Recruited
677,000+
References
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Health Care Staff: Expanding Holistic Nursing Paradigms to the Whole System. [2021]Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a well-known mindfulness meditation program for patients that also may benefit health care providers and clinic staff themselves. An abbreviated MBSR program adapted into 6 weekly 75-minute sessions held during staff lunch breaks provided a feasible and acceptable staff training approach within the workplace setting.
Compassion Meditation for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans: A Randomized Proof of Concept Study. [2020]There is considerable interest in developing complementary and integrative approaches for ameliorating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Compassion meditation (CM) and loving-kindness meditation appear to offer benefits to individuals with PTSD, including symptom reduction. The present study was a pilot randomized controlled trial of CM for PTSD in veterans. The CM condition, an adaptation of Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT®), consists of exercises to stabilize attention, develop present-moment awareness, and foster compassion. We compared CM to Veteran.calm (VC), which consists of psychoeducation about PTSD, rationale for relaxation, relaxation training, and sleep hygiene. Both conditions consist of 10 weekly 90-min group sessions with between-session practice assignments. A total of 28 veterans attended at least one session of the group intervention and completed pre- and posttreatment measures of PTSD severity and secondary outcomes as well as weekly measures of PTSD, depressive symptoms, and positive and negative emotions. Measures of treatment credibility, attendance, practice compliance, and satisfaction were administered to assess feasibility. A repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a more substantive reduction in PTSD symptoms in the CM condition than in the VC condition, between-group d = -0.85. Credibility, attendance, and satisfaction were similar across CM and VC conditions thus demonstrating the feasibility of CM and the appropriateness of VC as a comparison condition. The findings of this initial randomized pilot study provide rationale for future studies examining the efficacy and effectiveness of CM for veterans with PTSD.
Effects of Cognitively Based Compassion Training in the outskirts: A mixed study. [2023]to analyze the effects of Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT®) among people in situations of social vulnerability.
Exploring the Cross-cultural Applicability of a Brief Compassionate Mind Training: a Study Comparing Sri Lankan and UK People. [2023]Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) is a therapeutic approach proven to be effective for reducing distress and increasing well-being in clinical and non-clinical populations. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of a short-term, online version of the CMT on compassion, distress, and well-being in a cross-cultural, non-clinical sample of Sri Lankan and UK people.
Loving-kindness meditation for posttraumatic stress disorder: a pilot study. [2022]Loving-kindness meditation is a practice designed to enhance feelings of kindness and compassion for self and others. Loving-kindness meditation involves repetition of phrases of positive intention for self and others. We undertook an open pilot trial of loving-kindness meditation for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Measures of PTSD, depression, self-compassion, and mindfulness were obtained at baseline, after a 12-week loving-kindness meditation course, and 3 months later. Effect sizes were calculated from baseline to each follow-up point, and self-compassion was assessed as a mediator. Attendance was high; 74% attended 9-12 classes. Self-compassion increased with large effect sizes and mindfulness increased with medium to large effect sizes. A large effect size was found for PTSD symptoms at 3-month follow-up (d = -0.89), and a medium effect size was found for depression at 3-month follow-up (d = -0.49). There was evidence of mediation of reductions in PTSD symptoms and depression by enhanced self-compassion. Overall, loving-kindness meditation appeared safe and acceptable and was associated with reduced symptoms of PTSD and depression. Additional study of loving-kindness meditation for PTSD is warranted to determine whether the changes seen are due to the loving-kindness meditation intervention versus other influences, including concurrent receipt of other treatments.
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]Cancer survivors and their informal caregivers (family members, close friends) often experience significant impairments in health-related quality of life (HRQOL), including disruptions in psychological, physical, social, and spiritual well-being both during and after primary cancer treatment. The purpose of this in-progress pilot trial is to determine acceptability and preliminary efficacy (as reflected by effect sizes) of CBCT® (Cognitively-Based Compassion Training) compared with a cancer health education (CHE) attention control to improve the primary outcome of depressive symptoms and secondary outcomes of other HRQOL domains (e.g., anxiety, fatigue), biomarkers of inflammation and diurnal cortisol rhythm, and healthcare utilization-related outcomes in both cancer survivors and informal caregivers.
Compassion Meditation for Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): a Nonrandomized Study. [2022]Compassion meditation (CM) is a contemplative practice that is intended to cultivate the ability to extend and sustain compassion toward self and others. Although research documents the benefits of CM in healthy populations, its use in the context of psychopathology is largely unexamined. The purpose of this study was to refine and initially evaluate a CM protocol, Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT®), for use with Veterans with PTSD. To this end, our research team developed and refined a manualized protocol, CBCT-Vet, over 4 sets of groups involving 36 Veterans. This protocol was delivered in 8-10 sessions, each lasting 90-120 min and led by a CBCT®-trained clinical psychologist. Quantitative and qualitative data were used to identify areas to be improved and to assess change that occurred during the treatment period. Based on pooled data from this series of groups, CM appears to be acceptable to Veterans with PTSD. Group participation was associated with reduced symptoms of PTSD (partial eta squared = .27) and depression (partial eta squared = .19), but causality should not be inferred given the nonrandomized design. No change was observed in additional outcomes, including positive emotion and social connectedness. The results of this open trial support additional exploration of CM as part of the recovery process for Veterans with PTSD.
Online Training in Specific Meditation Practices Improves Gratitude, Well-Being, Self-Compassion, and Confidence in Providing Compassionate Care Among Health Professionals. [2022]Mind-body practices that intentionally generate positive emotion could improve health professionals' well-being and compassion. However, the feasibility and impact of clinician training in these practices is unknown. Data were analyzed from 3 online modules offered to health professionals: ( a) Gratitude, ( b) Positive Word, and ( c) Loving-kindness/Compassion meditation. Paired t tests were used to assess pre- to posttraining changes in gratitude (Gratitude Questionnaire), well-being (World Health Organization Well-Being Index), self-compassion (Neff's Self-Compassion Scale), and confidence in providing compassionate care (Confidence in Providing Calm, Compassionate Care Scale). The 177 enrollees included diverse practitioners (nurses, physicians, social workers, and others). Training was associated with statistically significant improvements in gratitude (38.3 ± 4.6 to 39.5 ± 3.3), well-being (16.4 ± 4.0 to 17.9 ± 4.2), self-compassion (39.5 ± 8.1 to 43.1 ± 7.6), and confidence in providing compassionate care (73.3 ± 16.4 to 80.9 ± 13.8; P
The theoretical and empirical basis for meditation as an intervention for PTSD. [2021]In spite of the existence of good empirically supported treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), consumers and providers continue to ask for more options for managing this common and often chronic condition. Meditation-based approaches are being widely implemented, but there is minimal research rigorously assessing their effectiveness. This article reviews meditation as an intervention for PTSD, considering three major types of meditative practices: mindfulness, mantra, and compassion meditation. The mechanisms by which these approaches may effectively reduce PTSD symptoms and improve quality of life are presented. Empirical evidence of the efficacy of meditation for PTSD is very limited but holds some promise. Additional evaluation of meditation-based treatment appears to be warranted.