Authors: Kearney DJ, Malte CA, McManus C, Martinez ME, Felleman B, Simpson TL.
Year: 2013
Title: Loving-kindness Meditation for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Pilot Study
Summary: A trial of loving kindness meditation was undertaken with veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants were given 12 weeks training in loving-kindness meditation and measured for PTSD, depression, self-compassion, and mindfulness at different stages. The effects of this pilot demonstrated a range of benefits for participants from the meditation and concluded that the practice was both “safe” and “acceptable”. A pilot study but really strong participant attendance (74% involved in 9 to 12 classes) and fascinating results:
- self-compassion increased with large effect
- mindfulness increased with medium to large effect
- PSTD symptoms subject to a large effect at 3-month follow-up (d = -0.89)
- depression subject to a medium effect at 3 months
Perspective: Health psychology, positive psychology, clinical psychology
The Science of Meditation and Mindfulness 