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Cited by 196Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchMindfulness and Compassion InterventionsPsychotherapy Techniques and Applications

Meditation for posttraumatic stress: systematic review and meta-analysis

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Hilton, Lara, Maher, Alicia Ruelaz, Colaiaco, Benjamin, Apaydin, Eric, Sorbero, Melony E., Booth, Marika, Shanman, Roberta M., Hempel, Susanne·2017·Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy
DOI 10.1037/tra0000180
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis that synthesized evidence from randomized controlled trials of meditation interventions to provide estimates of their efficacy and safety in treating adults diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This review was based on an established protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42015025782) and is reported according to PRISMA guidelines. Outcomes of interest included PTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety, health-related quality of life, functional status, and adverse events. METHOD: Meta-analyses were conducted using the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman method for random-effects models. Quality of evidence was assessed using the Grade of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS: In total, 10 trials on meditation interventions for PTSD with 643 participants met inclusion criteria. Across interventions, adjunctive meditation interventions of mindfulness-based stress reduction, yoga, and the mantram repetition program improve PTSD and depression symptoms compared with control groups, but the findings are based on low and moderate quality of evidence. Effects were positive but not statistically significant for quality of life and anxiety, and no studies addressed functional status. The variety of meditation intervention types, the short follow-up times, and the quality of studies limited analyses. No adverse events were reported in the included studies; only half of the studies reported on safety. CONCLUSIONS: Meditation appears to be effective for PTSD and depression symptoms, but in order to increase confidence in findings, more high-quality studies are needed on meditation as adjunctive treatment with PTSD-diagnosed participant samples large enough to detect statistical differences in outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record

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  • Clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of yoga as a therapeutic intervention for PTSD and dissociation through a downregulation of the stress response.

    “In addition, clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of yoga as a therapeutic intervention for PTSD and dissociation through a downregulation of the stress response (180–182).”

    From Vagus Nerve as Modulator of the Brain–Gut Axis in Psychiatric and Inflammatory Disorders (2018) · cites this paper as [180]

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Authors
Hilton, L., Maher, A. R., Colaiaco, B., Apaydin, E., Sorbero, M. E., Booth, M., Shanman, R. M., & Hempel, S.
Affiliations
RAND Corporation (US)
ORCID
Venue
Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2017-07
Volume
9
Issue
4
Pages
453-460
ISSN
  • 1942-9681 (ISSN-L)
  • 1942-969X
DOI
10.1037/tra0000180
OpenAlex
W2507224485
Cited by
196
References
31
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 67 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 9
FWCI
19.22
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Department of Defense (14-539.2)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Keywords
meditation, post-traumatic stress disorder, mindfulness-based stress reduction, yoga, depression, anxiety, health-related quality of life, adjunctive therapy, treatment safety
MeSH terms
Humans, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Meditation

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