Feasibility and Acceptability of Stress Induction, Physiological Data Collection, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Among Combat Veterans With PTSD

Summary

Investigators will recruit up to 20 veterans with PTSD. Participants will be randomized into two conditions: MBSR and Health and Wellness Education (HWE; control group). Participants will be randomized at a 1:1 ratio. Purpose of the study is to learn how mindfulness meditation may be helpful in treating PTSD. Participants will undergo 2 screening sessions, 8 weekly sessions of intervention (MBSR or HWE), 3 laboratory visits that will include completing survey questionnaires, stress test and recording of heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate.

Conditions

• Ptsd

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

MBSR consists of weekly two-hour sessions for eight weeks, and a 7.5 hour retreat between weeks 6 and 7. The MBSR intervention will be facilitated by an experienced and certified MBSR teacher. MBSR curriculum strongly encourages completion of home practice assignments (\~30 minutes daily) to help integration of concepts into daily life. Participants will receive audio CDs and a DVD to help guide home practice.

BEHAVIORAL

Health and Wellness Education (HWE)

HWE is a didactic-based group intervention designed as an active comparator for randomized-controlled trials of MBSR. HWE provides instruction to participants regarding improving their emotional and physical health. In contrast to MBSR, there are no attempts to train participants' breathing, movement, or meditation habits or practices. HWE is administered in 8 weekly 2.5-hour classes with home practice to be completed between sessions (matched to MBSR for amount and effort). HWE also features one extended 7.5-hour retreat, similar to MBSR.84 Dr. Autumn Gallegos (consultant) has conducted trials of MBSR among veterans with PTSD using a HWE control group, and will provide mentorship to the PI in administering the HWE intervention. Dr. Kaplan and a trained RA will facilitate HWE.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute

  collaborator OTHER

• National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

  collaborator NIH

• Oregon Health and Science University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Josh Kaplan, PhD, MCR · Oregon Health and Science University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

85 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-07-07

Primary Completion

2023-11-28

Completion

2024-02-03

Countries

• United States

Study Locations