Mantram Repetition Program for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Use Disorders: Preliminary Evidence of Efficacy

Objectives The mantram repetition program (MRP) is an accessible mindfulness-based intervention involving meditation practice, aimed at slowing down thoughts and developing one-pointed attention. The MRP was modified for a population with comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD). This cohort study aimed to evaluate the preliminary evidence of MRP’s efficacy in changing PTSD symptoms, substance use, mood symptoms, and perceived stress over 8 weeks compared to baseline in noncomparative groups of individuals with PTSD and SUD. Method This longitudinal study involved an 8-week intervention with a follow-up at week 12. Sixty-six individuals with PTSD and SUD participated in weekly virtual MRP sessions over 8 weeks in small groups. A multilevel model was used to assess the mean PTSD and SUD outcomes at different time points (baseline, Week 8, and Week 12). Results There was a significant decrease in PTSD severity as measured by the self-reported Posttraumatic Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) scale ( p