Mindfulness for Anger in Veterans With PTSD

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Anger, Aggression

In brief

Research has consistently shown that Veterans with PTSD are more likely to experience higher levels of anger and commit aggressive acts compared to Veterans without PTSD. Given the significant negative impact that anger and aggression can have on the lives of Veterans, their families, and society at large, there is a great need to examine novel interventions that could decrease anger and aggression risk with this population. Mindfulness may be one such technique, given its effectiveness in assisting individuals in regulating difficult emotions and in decreasing physiological reactivity, which have both been implicated in PTSD and aggression perpetration. Findings showing that a mindfulness intervention is effective in reducing anger and aggressive behavior would be relevant for Veterans with PTSD experiencing such difficulties and would help prevent the detrimental consequences that can come from anger and aggression among these individuals.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02882802

Run by

VA Office of Research and Development

People needed

61

Starts

2017-12-01

Expected to finish

2023-01-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-05-01

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 75. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Participants must meet current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition) diagnostic criteria for PTSD (participants with sub-threshold levels of PTSD will also be allowed to participate).
• Participants must also indicate current difficulties with anger and aggression.

You may not qualify if…

• Participants with a current diagnosis of psychotic disorder or current substance use disorder with severe symptoms.
• Participants diagnosed with bipolar II disorder without psychotic features and/or individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder who are well-controlled on medication will be allowed to participate. Individuals with bipolar disorder who do not fall into either of these categories will be excluded.
• Participants also must not have a seizure disorder.
• Participants are allowed to be taking psychotropic medications, however they must be on a stable dose for at least 2 months.
• Participants who do not have a working and active e-mail account and access to a smart phone or computer will be excluded.
• Finally, participants must not currently be receiving concurrent individual therapy or group therapy focused on anger and aggression, must not be currently receiving any evidence-based treatment for PTSD, and must not currently be participating in the modified TREC group offered at the West Haven VA Medical Center.

Where it is running

• VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CT — West Haven, Connecticut, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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