Challenge
It is estimated that between 11 and 20 percent of Veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). While strides have been made in recent years in the field of PTSD research, there remains much to be examined in the efforts to improve care. As part of a wider initiative to understand the effectiveness of different forms of meditation as alternative treatment modalities for Veterans diagnosed with PTSD, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) sought assistance to conduct an investigation and pilot study of Transcendental Meditation (TM)®.
Solution
Atlas Research worked closely with Maharishi Foundation USA and VA research staff to pilot demonstration programs at two VA sites to examine the potential benefits of TM on Veterans suffering from PTSD. Veterans participating in the study received TM training and follow-up consultations.
Under the contract from the VA Office of Mental Health Services, certified trainers taught TM to enrolled Veterans. The proprietary training protocol for the technique was made available through Maharishi, which described the practice as a simple, natural procedure for reducing stress and for self-development by allowing conscious thinking to “transcend” to deeper, quieter levels of the thinking process, to a point where a settled state of awareness, inner silence, and calm are reached.
Results
The pilot study results provided valuable data to VA regarding treatment effectiveness. Should VA be encouraged by the results of the study, meditation training can be scaled to benefit many more Veterans.