A Randomized Controlled Trial of Meditation Compared to Exposure Therapy and Education Control on PTSD in Veterans

A standard 7 step course will be offered including an introductory and preparatory lectures, personal one-on-one instruction with a certified TM teacher followed by 3 consecutive days of classes on how to meditate correctly and effortlessly, how to understand mechanisms of stress release and sequential development to higher levels of human consciousness and enjoying ones full potential. Followup meetings will provide checking of TM practice, sharing of group experiences with the TM practice and knowledge to motivate and inspire continued regularity with the practice. The certified TM instructor will have experience with PTSD in this veteran population.

Prolonged exposure therapy, a specific form of cognitive behavioral therapy, is considered the standard psychotherapy treatment for PTSD . The delivery of PE will be by a trained study therapist. There will be 16 individual sessions provided to each participant. Homework will include relaxation and breathing exercises and anxiety diaries.

This group will receive group-administered didactic health education specific to the PTSD veterans population. It will include emphasis on healthy lifestyle changes to promote more positive mental and physical health. The classes will be matched with the TM and PE interventions to control for time, instructor attention and other non-specific factors.