Transcendental Meditation is especially helpful for veterans who find the standard treatment unpleasant.

Top journal publishes new study showing TM reduced PTSD
by Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa, USA, The Review
28 December 2018

Media around the world reported on a study published by Lancet Psychiatry, a top journal, that found that the Transcendental Meditation technique significantly reduced post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans compared to the standard treatment.

After three months of practice, 61% of the 68 subjects in the Transcendental Meditation group had a clinically significant reduction in symptoms compared to 42% in the group that used the standard treatment. In a second control group, which received health education, 32% of the subjects showed a clinically significant reduction.

In addition, the participants in the Transcendental Meditation group were more likely to participate in the treatment sessions than those in the standard treatment group.

Standard treatment, referred to as “prolonged exposure,” entails veterans re-experiencing their trauma through remembering and engaging with situations that remind them of the trauma in order to eventually diminish their stress response. Some 30–45% of veterans typically withdraw from the treatment because it’s so unpleasant.

“New treatments, including options not involving exposure to the traumatic experience, are needed for veterans who do not respond to treatment or drop out due to discomfort,” said Maharishi University of Management (MUM) researcher Sandy Nidich, first author of the study.

Other MUM coauthors included Maxwell Rainforth, Robert Schneider, John Salerno, and Carolyn Gaylord-King.

© Copyright 2018 Maharishi University of Management