Transcendental Meditation and Reduced Trauma Symptoms in Women Inmates

The pilot study investigates the potential benefits of the Transcendental Meditation program in reducing trauma, including PTSD, in female prisoners. Subjects will be randomly assigned to either the TM program or a wait list control group for a period of four months.

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Key information

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Mental Disorders Stress Disorders, Traumatic Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders Wounds and Injuries

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

This randomized controlled pilot study will evaluate the effects of Transcendental Meditation ® (TM) on female offenders with trauma. Twenty-two inmates at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, Oregon, with at least four months left of incarceration, will be enrolled in the study. Subjects will be randomly assigned to either a TM (n=11) or a wait-list control group (n=11). Subjects will be measured at baseline and four-month posttest, using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian version (PCL-C) Twenty of the subjects (10 in each group) will take part in their treatment assignment and complete post-testing.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

female inmates, at least 4 months left of incarceration, signed written informed consent prior to baseline testing

Exclusion criteria

none

Treatment and study plan

Transcendental Meditation program

Behavioral

a mental technique using a mantra or 'soothing sound' that refines the thought process enabling the mind to 'transcend' its own thinking process and experience a state of pure consciousness. Subjects practice this technique twice a day for 20 minutes sitting in chair with eyes closed.

Other names: TM technique

Primary outcomes

Posttraumatic Stress Checklist- Civilian Version (PCL-C) total score

Time frame: 4 months

The PCL-C is a widely-used 17-item self-report questionnaire of trauma symptom with total score and intrusions, avoidance and hyperarousal subscales

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Maharishi International University

Other

Collaborators

Maharishi University of Management Research Institute
Western Oregon University

Registry information

Official study title

Transcendental Meditation and Reduced Trauma Symptoms in Women Inmates: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Important dates

Study start: 2014
Primary completion: 2014
Study completion: 2014
First posted: Jun 6, 2016
Registry last updated: Jun 6, 2016

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed