Randomised clinical non-inferiority trial of breathing-based meditation and cognitive processing therapy for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans.

Bayley PJ, Schulz-Heik RJ, Tang JS, Mathersul DC, Avery T, Wong M, Zeitzer JM, Rosen CS, Burn AS, Hernandez B, Lazzeroni LC, Seppälä EM. Randomised clinical non-inferiority trial of breathing-based meditation and cognitive processing therapy for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans. BMJ open. 2022 Aug 25; 12(8):e056609.

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Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: Test whether Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) was non-inferior to cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for treating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans via a parallel randomised controlled non-inferiority trial. SETTING: Outpatient Veterans Affairs healthcare centre. PARTICIPANTS: 85 veterans (75 men, 61% white, mean age 56.9) with symptoms of PTSD participated between October 2015 and March 2020: 59 participants completed the study. INTERVENTIONS: SKY emphasises breathing routines and was delivered in group format in a 15-hour workshop followed by two 1-hour sessions per week for 5 weeks. CPT is an individual psychotherapy which emphasises shifting cognitive appraisals and was delivered in two 1-hour sessions per week for 6 weeks. MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C). The secondary measures were the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS). RESULTS: Mean PCL-C at baseline was 56.5 (±12.6). Intent-to-treat analyses showed that PCL-C scores were reduced at 6?weeks (end of treatment) relative to baseline (SKY, -5.6, 0.41, n = 41: CPT, -6.8, 0.58, n = 44). The between-treatment difference in change scores was within the non-inferiority margin of 10 points (-1.2, 95%?CI -5.7 to 3.3), suggesting SKY was not inferior to CPT. SKY was also non-inferior at 1-month (CPT-SKY: -2.1, 95%?CI -6.9 to 2.8) and 1-year (CPT-SKY: -1.8, 95%?CI -6.6 to 2.9) assessments. SKY was also non-inferior to CPT on the BDI-II and PANAS at end of treatment and 1?month, but SKY was inferior to CPT on both BDI-II and PANAS at 1?year. Dropout rates were similar (SKY, 27%, CPT, 34%: OR = 1.36, 95%?CI 0.51 to 3.62, p = 0.54). CONCLUSIONS: SKY may be non-inferior to CPT for treating symptoms of PTSD and merits further consideration as a treatment for PTSD. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02366403.