Trait Mindfulness Moderates Treatment Outcomes in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Mantram Repetition Program for Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

In veterans with military-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), certain pre-existing mindfulness skills influenced how well they responded to a Mantram Repetition Program (MRP) compared with present-centered therapy (PCT). Among 173 veterans, those with a greater ability to describe their internal experiences showed lower PTSD hyperarousal symptoms after MRP than after PCT. Conversely, veterans with lower nonreactivity to internal stimuli experienced greater reductions in PTSD avoidance and numbing symptoms and insomnia with MRP than with PCT. The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire may help predict which patients benefit most from mindfulness-based interventions like MRP.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Objectives: This secondary analysis examined five facets of mindful awareness as potential moderators of clinical outcomes using data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that compared Mantram Repetition Program (MRP) with present-centered therapy (PCT) in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods: Data were examined from 173 veterans with military-related PTSD randomly assigned to receive eight sessions of MRP (n = 89) or PCT (n = 84). Clinician-administered and self-report measures of mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire [FFMQ]), PTSD severity, insomnia symptoms, and depression symptoms, and were obtained pre- and post-intervention. Hierarchical regressions were used to test for FFMQ moderation on clinical outcomes within the two treatment groups. Results: For those with greater ability to "describe their internal experience" (+1 standard deviation [SD]), MRP was associated with lower PTSD hyperarousal symptoms post-intervention than PCT (p < 0.001). For those with lower "nonreactivity to internal stimuli" (-1 SD), MRP was associated with greater reductions in PTSD avoidance and numbing symptoms and insomnia compared with PCT (all ps < 0.002). Conclusions: Pre-intervention mindfulness domains of "describe" and "nonreactivity to inner experience" differentially predicted improvements in PTSD and insomnia symptoms for MRP as compared with PCT subjects. The FFMQ may be an important tool for predicting patient preparedness for mindfulness-based interventions, such as MRP.