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VA Research Currents archive
Posted September 13, 2013
(VA Research Currents; online only)
In a small pilot study, a form of meditation that involves repeating phrases of "positive intention" helped reduce symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. The study took place at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System and involved 43 Veterans, almost half women.
The treatment stems from Buddhist tradition, but can be adapted for nonreligious practice. It is designed to boost feelings of kindness and compassion toward oneself and toward others.
The Veterans who took part attended up to 12 meditation classes, in addition to their usual medical care. Three months after the classes ended, the researchers found improvements in PTSD and depression that appeared to be related to "enhanced self-compassion" on the part of the participants. The study volunteers also showed increased mindfulness. But the researchers say they can't rule out that the improvements came about because of other treatments the Veterans were receiving.
First and foremost, the trial showed that the meditation classes are "safe and acceptable to Veterans with PTSD," say the authors, led by David Kearney, MD, a VA gastroenterologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington. Kearney has studied various complementary and alternative treatments to address stress. The group hopes to conduct a larger, randomized, controlled study of loving-kindness meditation in the future.
The study was funded by the Seattle Institute for Biomedical and Clinical Research, a nonprofit foundation that helps fund research at the Puget Sound VA.
(Journal of Traumatic Stress, online July 25, 2013)