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A Controlled Breathing Course for Social & Emotional Health for Vietnam Veterans With Chronic PTSD-RCT

This study has been completed.
Sponsor:
Information provided by:
The University of Queensland
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT00256477
First received: November 16, 2005
Last updated: NA
Last verified: March 2005
History: No changes posted
  Purpose

The main aim of this project is to evaluate the use of a specific Yoga technique of controlled breathing in Vietnam War Veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder. This method is currently the subject of a United States grant application to formally test American War Veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq. Drs Gerbarg and Brown are collaborating with The Bay Pines Veterans Administration Medical Center in Florida to develop a study of this course for treatment of American veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. Elements of this method have been used on a variety of populations. Whilst this is a multi-component intervention, it is postulated that the most active ingredient in the program is a specific Yoga breathing technique called Sudarshan Kriya (SK).


Condition Intervention Phase
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
 Behavioral: Sudarshan KRIYA Breathing Technique
 Phase 1

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Allocation: Randomized
Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: Single Blind
Primary Purpose: Educational/Counseling/Training
Official Title: A Controlled Breathing Course Promoting Social and Emotional Health for Vietnam Veterans With Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder - A Randomised Controlled Trial

Resource links provided by NLM:

U.S. FDA Resources

Further study details as provided by The University of Queensland:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • Reduce the symptoms of PTSD
  • Reduce the comorbid conditions of Depression and alcohol dependence

Estimated Enrollment: 30
Study Start Date: March 2005
Estimated Study Completion Date: October 2005
Detailed Description:

The main aim of this project is to evaluate the use of a specific Yoga technique of controlled breathing in Vietnam War Veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder. This method is currently the subject of a United States grant application to formally test American War Veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq. Drs Gerbarg and Brown are collaborating with The Bay Pines Veterans Administration Medical Center in Florida to develop a study of this course for treatment of American veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. Elements of this method have been used on a variety of populations. Whilst this is a multi-component intervention, it is postulated that the most active ingredient in the program is a specific Yoga breathing technique called Sudarshan Kriya (SK).

This program has been developed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, chief yoga teacher and Head of The Art of Living Foundation (Ravishankar 2002). Further, this method has been applied widely for the treatment of Acute Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in individual cases (Gerbarg and Brown 2005Direct communication). For example, this controlled breathing program has been reported to have relieved posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in large groups of people affected by mass disasters such as war (Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq and Sudan) (Biswas 2004; Joseph 2004; Luedemann 2004), terrorism (New York City 9/11) (Anonymous 2001b), (Kashmir, India, Israel) and natural disasters (Gujurat earthquake, 2000) (Anonymous 2001a) Iran flood, Asian Tsunami. This controlled breathing program is reported to have also helped police (Slovenia, India, Washington, DC) and military personnel (Iraq) (cited in Gerbarg and Brown 2004), (Gerbarg 2005Personal communication). Pilot studies conducted by the Principal Investigator using similar techniques showed positive health results for Vietnam Veterans with PTSD in Australia (Carter and Byrne 2004). However, although randomized clinical trials have been performed for depression with good effect

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   50 Years to 70 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:   Male
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • suffering chronic post traumatic stress disorder tested by CAPS
  • Vietnam Veteran
  • Adequate Cognition

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Inadequate cogition
  • suicidality
  • psychosis
  • substance abuse other than alcohol
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00256477

Sponsors and Collaborators
The University of Queensland
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Dr Janis J CARTER, MBBS FRANZCP The University of Queensland
  More Information

Additional Information:
History of Trials thus far  This link exits the ClinicalTrials.gov site

No publications provided

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00256477     History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers: SKY - PTSD, Ethics approval 2005000320
Study First Received: November 16, 2005
Last Updated: November 16, 2005
Health Authority: Australia: Human Research Ethics Committee

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorders, Traumatic
Anxiety Disorders
Mental Disorders

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 22, 2013