NCT01093053

Mind-Body Skills Groups for the Treatment of War Zone Stress in Military and Veteran Populations

A Randomized Controlled Study of Mind-Body Skills Groups for Treatment of War Zone Stress in Military and Veteran Populations

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 108 (actual)
• Sponsor: The Center for Mind-Body Medicine · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether participation in mind-body skills groups by veterans who have experienced a stressful war-related situation and have symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), will improve symptoms of PTSD, depression and anxiety, reduce anger, improve quality of life, quality of sleep and result in posttraumatic growth (a positive change that people can experience when they have been in a traumatic situation).

Detailed description

The study will be a randomized controlled study where participants will be randomly selected to either participate in the mind-body skills program and to answer questionnaires before and after the program and again 6 months later or, if they are not randomized to the mind-body skills group program, they will answer the questionnaires during the same time periods without participating in the program. Both groups will also continue their medical treatment as usual. The mind-body skills group intervention consists of groups of 8-10 participants. Two formats will be offered. (1) A 2 hour group session once a week for 10 weeks or (2) Weekend groups which will be run on alternating Saturdays, with a 2 hour session in the morning and another 2 hour session in the afternoon. The groups will be run for a total of 5 Saturday sessions. Additional "reunion" groups will be held at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months in order to reinforce skills and to provide continuing social support.

Conditions

• Stress Disorders, Post Traumatic
• Brain Injuries
• Depressive Disorder
• Anxiety Disorders
• Anger

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Mind-Body Skills Groups	The mind-body skills group program teaches participants how to do meditation, guided imagery, breathing techniques, and biofeedback. These mind-body techniques are taught and practiced in small groups of 8 to 10 people and also contain an element of social support.
OTHER	Standard Treatment	May include individual or group psychotherapy consisting of cognitive behavioral therapy or present-centered (i.e. unrelated to mindfulness) psychotherapy as well as medication management. Medications for depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders are the most commonly used in standard treatment.

Timeline

• Start date: 2010-09-01
• Primary completion: 2013-09-01
• Completion: 2013-09-01
• First posted: 2010-03-25
• Last updated: 2014-01-29

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States