Emotion regulation and heart rate variability may identify the optimal posttraumatic stress disorder treatment: analyses from a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: High variability in response and retention rates for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment highlights the need to identify "personalized" or "precision" medicine factors that can inform optimal intervention selection before an individual commences treatment. In secondary analyses from a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial, behavioral and physiological emotion regulation were examined as non-specific predictors (that identify which individuals are more likely to respond to treatment, regardless of treatment type) and treatment moderators (that identify which treatment works best for whom) of PTSD outcome.

Methods: There were 85 US Veterans with clinically significant PTSD symptoms randomized to 6 weeks of either cognitive processing therapy (CPT; n = 44) or a breathing-based yoga practice (Sudarshan kriya yoga; SKY; n = 41).

Yoga is effective for treating chronic pain in veterans with Gulf War Illness at long-term follow-up.

Background: Clinical Practice Guidelines for Gulf War Illness (GWI) recommend integrative health approaches such as yoga for relief from symptoms, yet little is known about the long-term efficacy of yoga in reducing symptoms of GWI. Here, we evaluated the long-term efficacy of yoga and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) chronic pain treatment in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 75 Veterans (57 men, 42-71 ± 7.1 years of age) with Gulf War Illness (GWI).

Training Staff Across the Veterans Affairs Health Care System to Use Mobile Mental Health Apps: A National Quality Improvement Project.

Background: The National Center for PTSD, within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), has developed a suite of free, publicly available, evidence-informed apps that can reach an increasing number of veterans and bridge gaps in care by providing resources to those who are not engaged in mental health treatment. To expand the reach of these apps, staff across VA service lines learned about these apps, their features and limitations, and how to introduce them to veterans.

Objective: This study aimed to develop, disseminate, and evaluate a training for multidisciplinary staff as part of a national quality improvement project to increase the reach of mobile mental health apps as a resource for veterans.

Valued living among veterans in breath-based meditation treatment or cognitive processing therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: Exploratory outcome of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Valued living is the extent to which an individual's behavior is consistent with what they believe is important or good. It is unknown whether many complementary and integrative treatments and psychotherapies for posttraumatic stress disorder enhance valued living, and for whom.

Objectives: Measure within- and between-group changes in valued living in Veterans who completed cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and sudarshan kriya yoga (SKY) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); evaluate moderators of improvement.

Emotion dysregulation and heart rate variability improve in US veterans undergoing treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: Secondary exploratory analyses from a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Emotion regulation (ER) is a key process underlying posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yet, little is known about how ER changes with PTSD treatment. Understanding these effects may shed light on treatment processes.

Methods: We recently completed a non-inferiority design randomised controlled trial demonstrating that a breathing-based yoga practice (Sudarshan kriya yoga; SKY) was not clinically inferior to cognitive processing therapy (CPT) across symptoms of PTSD, depression, or negative affect.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Does Not Compromise Behavioral Pain Treatment: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial Among Veterans.

Background: Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD) and chronic pain evince different presentations, coping strategies, and treatment utilization patterns than individuals with chronic pain alone. Theorists have suggested that comorbid PTSD may complicate chronic pain treatment, and that integrated pain and PTSD treatment may be preferable to pain treatment alone.

Objective: Assess whether comorbid PTSD moderates Veterans' response to yoga and/or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for pain.

Self-Reported Autonomic Dysregulation in Gulf War Illness.

Introduction: Autonomic nervous system dysregulation is commonly observed in Gulf War illness (GWI). Using a new sample, we sought to replicate and extend findings from a previous study that found autonomic symptoms predicted physical functioning in Veterans with GWI.

Materials And Methods: A linear regression model was used to predict physical functioning (36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36); n = 73, 75% male).

Mobile Mental Health Apps from the National Center for PTSD: Digital Self-Management Tools for Co-Occurring Disorders.

Mobile mental health apps can help bridge gaps in access to care for those with substance use disorders and dual diagnoses. The authors describe a portfolio of free, publicly available mobile mental health apps developed by the National Center for PTSD. The authors also demonstrate how this suite of primarily non-substance use disorder-specific mobile mental health apps may support the active ingredients of substance use disorder treatment or be used for self-management of substance use disorder and related issues.

Heart rate and heart rate variability as outcomes and longitudinal moderators of treatment for pain across follow-up in Veterans with Gulf War illness.

Aims: Accumulating evidence suggests Gulf War illness (GWI) is characterised by autonomic nervous system dysfunction (higher heart rate [HR], lower heart rate variability [HRV]). Yoga - an ancient mind-body practice combining mindfulness, breathwork, and physical postures - is proposed to improve autonomic dysfunction yet this remains untested in GWI. We aimed to determine (i) whether HR and HRV improve among Veterans with GWI receiving either yoga or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for pain; and (ii) whether baseline autonomic functioning predicts treatment-related pain outcomes across follow-up.

Yoga is effective in treating symptoms of Gulf War illness: A randomized clinical trial.

Many Veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War report symptoms of Gulf War Illness, a condition involving numerous chronic symptoms including pain, fatigue, and mood/cognition symptoms. Little is known about this condition's etiology and treatment. This study reports outcomes from a randomized controlled single-blind trial comparing yoga to cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain and other symptoms of Gulf War Illness.

Clinical yoga program utilization in a large health care system.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers yoga for multiple conditions.

Combat Experiences Link With Posttraumatic Growth Among Veterans Across Conflicts: The Influence of PTSD and Depression.

Research has established posttraumatic growth as a potential outcome of highly stressful experiences such as combat. However, a deeper understanding of this relationship is needed to provide practical implications for clinical work and to influence new research directions. We examined the relation between combat experiences and posttraumatic growth along with its subscales, as well as the influence of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptom severity.

Study protocol for a non-inferiority randomised controlled trial of SKY breathing meditation versus cognitive processing therapy for PTSD among veterans.

Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating, highly prevalent condition. Current clinical practice guidelines recommend trauma-focused psychotherapy (eg, cognitive processing therapy; CPT) as the first-line treatment for PTSD. However, while these treatments show clinically meaningful symptom improvement, the majority of those who begin treatment retain a diagnosis of PTSD post-treatment.

Results from a clinical yoga program for veterans: yoga via telehealth provides comparable satisfaction and health improvements to in-person yoga.

Background: Yoga is increasingly popular, though little data regarding its implementation in healthcare settings is available. Similarly, telehealth is being utilized more frequently to increase access to healthcare; however we know of no research on the acceptability or effectiveness of yoga delivered through telehealth. Therefore, we evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and patient-reported effectiveness of a clinical yoga program at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center and assessed whether these outcomes differed between those participating in-person and those participating via telehealth.