NCT01725854

Relaxation Response Training for PTSD Prevention in US Military Personnel

Relaxation Response (RR) Training for PTSD Prevention in Soldiers a.k.a. "SPIRIT SMART" (Stemming PTSD, Increasing Resilience and Impeding Trauma in Service Members: Assessing Relaxation Response Training)

• Status: Terminated
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 8 (actual)
• Sponsor: William Beaumont Army Medical Center · Federal
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purposes of this study are to evaluate the acceptability and utility of a mind-body intervention on a convenience sample of Soldiers (n=120) who have screened positive through RESPECT-MIL for symptoms that may lead to post-traumatic stress and to test the effectiveness of this Relaxation Response (RR) intervention designed to decrease the physiological and psychosocial effects of stress and trauma. The study aims to enhance the psychological health of Soldiers with a RR intervention designed to promote self-awareness of physiological responses to stress and the ability to increase relaxation responses.

Detailed description

Specific Aims: 1. Demonstrate that trainers can be trained effectively to deliver the intervention, a mind-body skills training program based on the Benson-Henry Institute's standard RR training curriculum and tailored to a military population. 2. Evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and compliance to the training program in an active duty military population. 3. Compare outcomes on sleep disturbance, PTSD, stress-related symptoms, quality of life, and psychosocial variables related to resilience of Soldiers who receive the 6-week training program to promote the Relaxation Response to those Soldiers who do not receive the intervention.

Conditions

• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Relaxation Response training	Behavioral Relaxation Response Training (Benson-Henry Institute Relaxation Response Training) Participants randomized to the intervention group will participate in the six weekly RR sessions. Examples of in-group skill building exercises are mini relaxations, diaphragmatic breathing, introduction to imagery, and eliciting RR through Yoga. Presentations topics include Introduction to Mind/Body Medicine, Introduction to the RR, Experiential RR Sessions, and Introduction to Cognitive Restructuring. Home skill building assignments include relaxation focus practice, an appreciation journal, self-monitoring with Biodots (biosensor technology that helps participants to monitor and regulate their psycho-emotional state), physical activity, balanced nutrition, and progress notes.

Timeline

• Start date: 2012-07-01
• Primary completion: 2015-05-01
• Completion: 2015-05-01
• First posted: 2012-11-14
• Last updated: 2016-11-02

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States