title: Loving-kindness meditation for posttraumatic stress disorder: a pilot study.
abstract: Loving-kindness meditation is a practice designed to enhance feelings of kindness and compassion for self and others. Loving-kindness meditation involves repetition of phrases of positive intention for self and others. We undertook an open pilot trial of loving-kindness meditation for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Measures of PTSD, depression, self-compassion, and mindfulness were obtained at baseline, after a 12-week loving-kindness meditation course, and 3 months later. Effect sizes were calculated from baseline to each follow-up point, and self-compassion was assessed as a mediator. Attendance was high; 74% attended 9-12 classes. Self-compassion increased with large effect sizes and mindfulness increased with medium to large effect sizes. A large effect size was found for PTSD symptoms at 3-month follow-up (d = -0.89), and a medium effect size was found for depression at 3-month follow-up (d = -0.49). There was evidence of mediation of reductions in PTSD symptoms and depression by enhanced self-compassion. Overall, loving-kindness meditation appeared safe and acceptable and was associated with reduced symptoms of PTSD and depression. Additional study of loving-kindness meditation for PTSD is warranted to determine whether the changes seen are due to the loving-kindness meditation intervention versus other influences, including concurrent receipt of other treatments.
authors.affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Department of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA. david.kearney@va.gov
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kearney
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Malte
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.forename: Michelle E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Felleman
authors.forename: Tracy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008149:Love; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*