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Mediators of improved PTSD symptoms in veterans and civilians following a yoga program

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 January 2023

Louanne W. Davis Open the ORCID record for Louanne W. Davis [Opens in a new window] ,
Arlene A. Schmid ,
Joanne K. Daggy  and
Ziyi Yang
Louanne W. Davis*
Affiliation:
Research Department, Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Arlene A. Schmid
Affiliation:
Department of Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University System, Denver, Colorado, USA
Joanne K. Daggy
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Ziyi Yang
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Louanne W. Davis, Email: louannedavis52@gmail.com
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Abstract

Objective:

Although yoga shows some promise as an intervention for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), little is known about how yoga reduces PTSD symptoms. The current study hypothesised that aspects of interoceptive awareness would mediate the effect of a yoga intervention on PTSD symptoms.

Methods:

We used data from our recently completed randomised controlled trial of a 16-week holistic yoga programme for veterans and civilians diagnosed with PTSD (n = 141) that offered weekly 90-minute sessions. We conducted a mediation analysis using interoceptive awareness and other variables that were associated with PTSD symptom reduction at mid-treatment and treatment end.

Results:

Although measures of anxiety, interoceptive awareness, and spirituality were identified in individual mediator models, they were no longer found to be significant mediators when examined jointly in multiple mediator models. When examining the multiple mediator models, the strongest mediator of the yoga intervention on PTSD symptoms was mental well-being at mid-treatment and stigma at the treatment end. The total effect of yoga on CAPS and PCL at the treatment end mediated by stigma was 37.1% (–1.81/–4.88) and 33.6% (–1.91/–5.68), respectively.

Conclusion:

Investigation of mental well-being and mental illness stigma as potential mediators is warranted in future studies of yoga as a treatment for PTSD as they may prove to be important foci for yoga interventions.

Keywords

post-traumatic stress disordersyogaveteransmediation analysisclinical trials
Type
Original Article
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 35 , Issue 4 , August 2023 , pp. 232 - 240
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Creative Commons
This is a work of the US Government and is not subject to copyright protection within the United States. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology
Copyright
© US Department of Veterans Affairs, 2023

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