Mindful Yoga Therapy as an Adjunctive Treatment for PTSD Among OEF/OIF Veterans

NCT ID: NCT01521442

Last Updated: 2014-12-19

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

WITHDRAWN

Clinical Phase

PHASE1/PHASE2

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2013-04-30

Study Completion Date

2015-11-30

Brief Summary

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The primary objective of the current study is to establish the safety and acceptability of Mindful Yoga Therapy as an adjunctive treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) Veterans. The current study also seeks to establish preliminary efficacy of Mindful Yoga Therapy for reduction of symptoms of PTSD and explore heart rate variability as a mechanism of therapeutic action.

Detailed Description

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PTSD is a chronic, debilitating anxiety disorder associated with disability, functional impairment, and a host of co-morbid physical and mental health conditions. Although several treatments are successful in treating Veterans with PTSD, many Veterans fail to complete these treatments and many others complete treatment without significant relief from symptoms. Yoga is one integrative treatment option that has shown promise for a number of physical and mental health conditions, including the treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders in civilian samples, and chronic pain in Veterans. Yoga is widely offered in Veterans Affairs (VA) PTSD Treatment Programs, yet there is a lack of research on its efficacy for PTSD in Veterans.

Mindful Yoga Therapy (MYT)is a 12-week treatment protocol incorporating meditation, breathing exercises, mindful movement practice, and guided rest (yoga nidra) that has been developed specifically for Veterans with PTSD. This pilot randomized clinical trial with cross-over waitlist comparison (RCT) will compare Immediate Mindful Yoga Therapy (MYT) plus Treatment as Usual (TAU) with Delayed MYT + TAU. Baseline (week 0), 12-week, and 24-week assessments, in addition to 36-week assessments for the delayed MYT treatment group, will include diagnostic, neurocognitive, and psychophysiological measures conducted by a research team member blinded to treatment condition.

Primary Aim: The primary aim of the current pilot study is to establish the safety and acceptability of Mindful Yoga Therapy as an adjunctive treatment for PTSD among OEF/OIF Veterans.

Specific Aim #1: To establish that MYT is a treatment that can be implemented safely. Hypothesis #1: There will be no significant difference in the number of adverse events between treatment groups from week 0 to week 12.

Specific Aim #2: To establish that MYT is a treatment that veterans find helpful and accessible. Hypothesis #2. At least 50% of participants completing the MYT treatment will report that the treatment was helpful and accessible as reported on self-report measures of treatment satisfaction, administered at the completion of the MYT treatment component of the study (week 12 for the immediate MYT treatment group; week 24 for the delayed MYT treatment group).

Secondary Aim: To assess the effect of Mindful Yoga Therapy as an adjunctive treatment on symptoms of PTSD is OEF/OIF Veterans.

Specific Aim #3: To examine the efficacy of MYT + TAU in reducing frequency and/or intensity of PTSD symptoms. Hypothesis #3. While both groups are expected to show reductions in symptoms, compared to participants in the Delayed MYT + TAU group, Veterans in the Immediate MYT + TAU group will exhibit significantly greater reductions in the frequency and/or intensity of PTSD symptoms as assessed by the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) (baseline to 12-week change). We predict that Immediate MYT+TAU will have a differential impact on the three PTSD symptom clusters, with the greatest effect on the hyperarousal symptoms.

Specific Aim #4. To document the durability of MYT treatment effects in the Immediate MYT group. Hypothesis #4. PTSD symptom scores will not be significantly different at 24-week assessment compared to those at week 12 assessment in the immediate MYT treatment group, and not significantly different at 36-week assessment compared to 24-week assessment for the delayed treatment group.

Tertiary Aim: To assess changes in heart rate variability from a resting baseline period and a guided meditation period in Veterans with PTSD before and after treatment with Mindful Yoga Therapy.

Specific Aim #5: To examine the predictive value of HRV on outcomes of Immediate MYT+TAU and Delayed MYT + TAU. Hypothesis #5. Increases in high frequency HRV (HF-HRV) from resting baseline to guided meditation at the pre-treatment assessment (week 0 for the immediate MYT treatment group, week 12 for the delayed MYT treatment group) will be associated with greater PTSD symptom reduction at post-treatment (week 12 for the immediate MYT treatment group; week 24 for delayed MYT treatment group).

Conditions

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PTSD

Keywords

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PTSD Yoga Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Arm 1

12 sessions of Mindful Yoga Therapy delivered two times per week for 75 minutes each.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Mindful Yoga Therapy

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Veterans will participate in twice weekly Mindful Yoga Therapy, which includes meditation, breathing practices, mindful movement, and guided rest (yoga nidra), as well as daily home practice.

Arm 2

12-week delay before beginning Mindful Yoga Therapy treatment which will consist of 12 sessions of Mindful Yoga Therapy delivered two times per week for 75 minutes each.

Group Type OTHER

Wait-list Control

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive Mindful Yoga Therapy intervention after 12 weeks from being enrolled. Veterans will participate in twice weekly Mindful Yoga Therapy, which includes meditation, breathing practices, mindful movement, and guided rest (yoga nidra), as well as daily home practice.

Interventions

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Mindful Yoga Therapy

Veterans will participate in twice weekly Mindful Yoga Therapy, which includes meditation, breathing practices, mindful movement, and guided rest (yoga nidra), as well as daily home practice.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Wait-list Control

Participants will receive Mindful Yoga Therapy intervention after 12 weeks from being enrolled. Veterans will participate in twice weekly Mindful Yoga Therapy, which includes meditation, breathing practices, mindful movement, and guided rest (yoga nidra), as well as daily home practice.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* OEF/OIF/OND Veteran
* Ages 18-45
* Currently enrolled in active PTSD treatment
* Meet criteria for PTSD
* Veteran with combat exposure during deployment

Exclusion Criteria

* Current psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder
* Current use of beta-blocker medication
* Current regular yoga or meditation practice in the past month
* Significant limitations or injuries
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

45 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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VA Connecticut Healthcare System

FED

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Alicia Heapy, Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

VA Connecticut Healthcare System

Locations

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VA Connecticut Healthcare System

West Haven, Connecticut, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Other Identifiers

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01540

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id