A Controlled Breathing Course for Social & Emotional Health for Vietnam Veterans With Chronic PTSD-RCT

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE1

Total Enrollment

30 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2005-03-31

Study Completion Date

2005-10-31

Brief Summary

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The main aim of this project is to evaluate the use of a specific Yoga technique of controlled breathing in Vietnam War Veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder. This method is currently the subject of a United States grant application to formally test American War Veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq. Drs Gerbarg and Brown are collaborating with The Bay Pines Veterans Administration Medical Center in Florida to develop a study of this course for treatment of American veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. Elements of this method have been used on a variety of populations. Whilst this is a multi-component intervention, it is postulated that the most active ingredient in the program is a specific Yoga breathing technique called Sudarshan Kriya (SK).

Detailed Description

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The main aim of this project is to evaluate the use of a specific Yoga technique of controlled breathing in Vietnam War Veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder. This method is currently the subject of a United States grant application to formally test American War Veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq. Drs Gerbarg and Brown are collaborating with The Bay Pines Veterans Administration Medical Center in Florida to develop a study of this course for treatment of American veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. Elements of this method have been used on a variety of populations. Whilst this is a multi-component intervention, it is postulated that the most active ingredient in the program is a specific Yoga breathing technique called Sudarshan Kriya (SK).

This program has been developed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, chief yoga teacher and Head of The Art of Living Foundation (Ravishankar 2002). Further, this method has been applied widely for the treatment of Acute Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in individual cases (Gerbarg and Brown 2005Direct communication). For example, this controlled breathing program has been reported to have relieved posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in large groups of people affected by mass disasters such as war (Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq and Sudan) (Biswas 2004; Joseph 2004; Luedemann 2004), terrorism (New York City 9/11) (Anonymous 2001b), (Kashmir, India, Israel) and natural disasters (Gujurat earthquake, 2000) (Anonymous 2001a) Iran flood, Asian Tsunami. This controlled breathing program is reported to have also helped police (Slovenia, India, Washington, DC) and military personnel (Iraq) (cited in Gerbarg and Brown 2004), (Gerbarg 2005Personal communication). Pilot studies conducted by the Principal Investigator using similar techniques showed positive health results for Vietnam Veterans with PTSD in Australia (Carter and Byrne 2004). However, although randomized clinical trials have been performed for depression with good effect

Conditions

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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

ECT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Interventions

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Sudarshan KRIYA Breathing Technique

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* suffering chronic post traumatic stress disorder tested by CAPS
* Vietnam Veteran
* Adequate Cognition

Exclusion Criteria

* Inadequate cogition
* suicidality
* psychosis
* substance abuse other than alcohol

Minimum Eligible Age

50 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

70 Years

Eligible Sex

MALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Principal Investigators

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Dr Janis J CARTER, MBBS FRANZCP

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The University of Queensland

Other Identifiers

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Ethics approval 2005000320

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

SKY - PTSD