Trait Mindfulness Moderates Treatment Outcomes in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Mantram Repetition Program for...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Mindfulness Research

Background:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) significantly impacts veterans' well-being.
• Mindfulness-based interventions show promise for PTSD treatment.
• Individual differences in mindfulness may influence treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how five facets of mindful awareness moderate clinical outcomes in veterans with PTSD.
• To compare the efficacy of Mantram Repetition Program (MRP) and present-centered therapy (PCT) in relation to mindfulness facets.
• To identify predictors of treatment response for PTSD, insomnia, and depression.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 173 veterans with military-related PTSD.
• Participants were randomly assigned to receive eight sessions of MRP or PCT.
• Mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire [FFMQ]), PTSD severity, insomnia, and depression were assessed pre- and post-intervention.
• Hierarchical regressions were used to test for moderation effects of FFMQ domains on clinical outcomes.

Main Results:

• Greater ability to 'describe internal experience' was associated with lower PTSD hyperarousal symptoms with MRP compared to PCT.
• Lower 'nonreactivity to internal stimuli' was linked to greater reductions in PTSD avoidance/numbing and insomnia with MRP versus PCT.
• Specific mindfulness domains differentially predicted symptom improvements for MRP compared to PCT.

Conclusions:

• Pre-intervention mindfulness facets, particularly 'describe' and 'nonreactivity,' can predict treatment response in veterans with PTSD.
• The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) may help identify patients best suited for mindfulness-based interventions like MRP.
• Tailoring mindfulness interventions based on individual mindfulness capacities could enhance treatment efficacy for PTSD.