Persian Gulf SyndromeNCT01267045
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Gulf War Syndrome
A study testing Mindfulness-based stress reduction in people with Persian Gulf Syndrome, run by US Department of Veterans Affairs at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This pilot study is a two arm randomized, controlled clinical trial that evaluated whether a standardized Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention reduces symptoms associated with Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) more effectively than treatment as usual. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Persian Gulf Syndrome
- What is being tested?
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 55 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Oct 2010to Apr 2014
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Chart Diagnosis of PTSD
Who cannot join
- any past or present psychiatric disorder involving a history of psychosis (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, psychotic disorder not otherwise specified, etc.)
- Mania or poorly controlled bipolar
- Current suicidal or homicidal ideation
- Prior training in mindfulness meditation
- Active substance abuse or dependence
- Must not have had an inpatient admission for psychiatric reasons within the past month
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA
Seattle, Washington, 98108
About this study
Official title: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mindfulness Based Intervention for Gulf War Syndrome
This pilot study is a two arm randomized, controlled clinical trial that evaluated whether a standardized Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention reduces symptoms associated with Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) more effectively than treatment as usual. Fifty-five veterans meeting diagnostic criteria for Gulf War Syndrome were randomized to treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU plus an 8-week course of course of MBSR. Study measures were collected at baseline, immediate post-MBSR, and 6 months post intervention. Measures were obtained at equivalent time points for veterans randomized to TAU only. Following completion of all study activities, veterans randomized to TAU only had the opportunity to enroll in MBSR.
Read the detailed description
A randomized controlled trial with two arms. 55 veterans meeting diagnostic criteria for Gulf War Syndrome were randomized to standard care or standard care plus an 8-week course of course of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Study measures were collected at baseline, immediate post-MBSR (within one week of completion of the MBSR class) and 6 months following completion of the MBSR course. Measures were obtained at equivalent time points for veterans randomized to usual care only. Following completion, veterans randomized to standard care only had the opportunity to enroll in MBSR.
This pilot study will whether there is sufficient evidence of benefit to warrant further study, and gathered data that will allow estimation of the sample size needed in future studies. We also obtained measures working memory and attention, in addition to patient self-report measures of symptoms, in order to provide additional assessment of whether MBSR is effective. This project is prerequisite to a larger study.
- Conditions
- Persian Gulf Syndrome
- Being tested
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction
- Keywords
- Persian Gulf Syndrome, Pain, Fatigue, Attention, Meditation
- Medical subject headings
- Persian Gulf Syndrome, Pain, Fatigue
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Mindfulness-based stress reductionBehavioural
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teaches mindfulness as a non-religious practice of self-observation and self-awareness. Kabat-Zinn developed MBSR in 1979 in response to a growing awareness that medical interventions were often inadequate at addressing chronic pain issues and restoring function and life satisfaction. He drew on his meditation and yoga training to develop this program as a complement to traditional medicine that could help patients live fully despite their chronic medical and psychiatric conditions. Through MBSR an individual's emphasis shifts from a preoccupation with what is wrong to a growing appreciation for what is right and what can be built upon.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Arm 1 | Experimental | Participants in this arm undergo the mindfulness training intervention through taking part in a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course Receives: Behavioral: Mindfulness-based stress reduction |
| Arm 2 | No intervention | Treatment as usual for Gulf War Syndrome symptoms (medications, psychotherapy, etc.) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
The Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire
The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire is a self-report 22-item measure that assesses various types of pain on a scale of 0 (none) to 10 (worst possible) experienced during the past week. Score ranges from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 220; the higher the score, the worse the outcome.
Measured: 2 months
The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire
The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire is a self-report 22-item measure that assesses various types of pain on a scale of 0 (none) to 10 (worst possible) experienced during the past week. Score ranges from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 220; the higher the score, the worse the outcome.
Measured: 8 months
Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory - General Fatigue
The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory is a 20-item self-report measure of various types of fatigue. Each item is a statement, and the subject indicates how much, on a scale of 1 (yes, that is true) to 5 (no, that is not true), he or she agrees with the statement (e.g. "I feel very active.") Scores range from a minimum of 20 to a maximum of 100; the higher the score, the worse the outcome.
Measured: 2 months
Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory - General Fatigue
The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory is a 20-item self-report measure of various types of fatigue. Each item is a statement, and the subject indicates how much, on a scale of 1 (yes, that is true) to 5 (no, that is not true), he or she agrees with the statement (e.g. "I feel very active.") Scores range from a minimum of 20 to a maximum of 100; the higher the score, the worse the outcome.
Measured: 8 months
Cognitive Failures Questionnaire
The Cognitive Failure Questionnaire is a 25-item self-report measure of cognitive difficulty during daily living in the past six months. Each item is a question indicating a situation involving a type of cognitive failure (e.g. "Do you find you forget why you went from one part of the house to another?"), and the subject indicates how often that happens to them, on a scale of 0 (never) to 4 (very often). Scores range from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 100; the higher the score, the worse the outcome.
Measured: 2 months
Cognitive Failures Questionnaire
The Cognitive Failure Questionnaire is a 25-item self-report measure of cognitive difficulty during daily living in the past six months. Each item is a question indicating a situation involving a type of cognitive failure (e.g. "Do you find you forget why you went from one part of the house to another?"), and the subject indicates how often that happens to them, on a scale of 0 (never) to 4 (very often). Scores range from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 100; the higher the score, the worse the outcome.
Measured: 8 months
Secondary outcomes (8)
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is a 9-item (with an additional 10th item if any of the previous 9 are endorsed) self-report measure of depression. Subjects are instructed to indicate how often, over the last 2 weeks, they have been bothered by each problem (e.g. "feeling tired or having little energy"), from "not at all" (0), to "nearly every day" (3). Scores range from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 30; the higher the score, the worse the outcome.
Measured: 2 months
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is a 9-item (with an additional 10th item if any of the previous 9 are endorsed) self-report measure of depression. Subjects are instructed to indicate how often, over the last 2 weeks, they have been bothered by each problem (e.g. "feeling tired or having little energy"), from "not at all" (0), to "nearly every day" (3). Scores range from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 30; the higher the score, the worse the outcome.
Measured: 8 months
PTSD Symptom Severity Interview (PSSI)
The PTSD Symptom Severity Interview (PSSI) is a 17-question interview that measures the severity of PTSD symptoms in the past month. The interviewing researcher asks the subject to respond to each question (e.g. "Have you had recurrent or intrusive distressing thoughts or recollections about the trauma?") by indicating how often per week he or she experiences that symptom. For each item, "not at all" is scored as 0; "once per week or less/a little" is scored as 1; "2 to 4 times per week/somewhat" is scored as 2; and "5 or more times per week/very much" is scored as 3. Total scores range from a minimum of 17 to a maximum of 51; the higher the score, the worse the outcome.
Measured: 2 months
PTSD Symptom Severity Interview (PSSI)
The PTSD Symptom Severity Interview (PSSI) is a 17-question interview that measures the severity of PTSD symptoms in the past month. The interviewing researcher asks the subject to respond to each question (e.g. "Have you had recurrent or intrusive distressing thoughts or recollections about the trauma?") by indicating how often per week he or she experiences that symptom. For each item, "not at all" is scored as 0; "once per week or less/a little" is scored as 1; "2 to 4 times per week/somewhat" is scored as 2; and "5 or more times per week/very much" is scored as 3. Total scores range from a minimum of 17 to a maximum of 51; the higher the score, the worse the outcome.
Measured: 8 months
PROMIS Fatigue
The self-report PROMIS Fatigue measure uses a maximum of 7 questions to assess fatigue symptoms over the past 7 days. Subjects respond to each question (e.g. "How often did you feel tired?) with the following scale:
- = never
- = rarely
- = sometimes
- = often
- = always
Raw scores are converted to T-scores, which are standardized to a mean of 50. Scores above 50 indicate higher than average fatigue; scores below 50 indicate lower than average fatigue.
Measured: 2 months
PROMIS Fatigue
The self-report PROMIS Fatigue measure uses a maximum of 7 questions to assess fatigue symptoms over the past 7 days. Subjects respond to each question (e.g. "How often did you feel tired?) with the following scale:
- = never
- = rarely
- = sometimes
- = often
- = always
Raw scores are converted to T-scores, which are standardized to a mean of 50. Scores above 50 indicate higher than average fatigue; scores below 50 indicate lower than average fatigue.
Measured: 8 months
Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire
The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) measures five aspects of mindfulness: Observing, Describing, Acting with Awareness, Non-judging, and Non-reacting. It is a 39-item self-report questionnaire. Subjects respond to each statement (e.g. "I disapprove of myself when I have irrational ideas") by indicating how often they agree with the statement on a scale of 1 ("never or very rarely true") to 5 ("very often or always true"). Scores range from a minimum of 39 to a maximum of 195. Higher scores indicate greater levels of mindfulness.
Measured: 2 months
Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire
The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) measures five aspects of mindfulness: Observing, Describing, Acting with Awareness, Non-judging, and Non-reacting. It is a 39-item self-report questionnaire. Subjects respond to each statement (e.g. "I disapprove of myself when I have irrational ideas") by indicating how often they agree with the statement on a scale of 1 ("never or very rarely true") to 5 ("very often or always true"). Scores range from a minimum of 39 to a maximum of 195. Higher scores indicate greater levels of mindfulness.
Measured: 8 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Dec 2010 (estimated)
- Study startOct 2010
- Primary completionDec 2012
- Study completionApr 2014
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for Persian Gulf SyndromeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 55 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- US Department of Veterans Affairs
- Sponsor type
- US federal agency
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- David J Kearney, MD, Principal investigator, VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01267045
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SPLD-008-10S
- Status last verified
- Jul 2015
- First submitted
- 23 Dec 2010
- Last updated
- 7 Aug 2015
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 Aug 2015. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mindfulness Based Intervention for Gulf War Syndrome
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01267045
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SPLD-008-10S
- Conditions
- Persian Gulf Syndrome
- Keywords
- Persian Gulf Syndrome, Pain, Fatigue, Attention, Meditation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 55 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- US Department of Veterans AffairsUS federal agency
- Study start
- Oct 2010
- Primary completion
- Dec 2012 (actual)
- Study completion
- Apr 2014 (actual)
- First posted
- 24 Dec 2010 (estimated)
- Results
- Posted 17 Dec 2014
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This pilot study is a two arm randomized, controlled clinical trial that evaluated whether a standardized Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention reduces symptoms associated with Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) more effectively than treatment as usual. Fifty-five veterans meeting diagnostic criteria for Gulf War Syndrome were randomized to treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU plus an 8-week course of course of MBSR. Study measures were collected at baseline, immediate post-MBSR, and 6 months post intervention. Measures were obtained at equivalent time points for veterans randomized to TAU only. Following completion of all study activities, veterans randomized to TAU only had the opportunity to enroll in MBSR.
Detailed description
A randomized controlled trial with two arms. 55 veterans meeting diagnostic criteria for Gulf War Syndrome were randomized to standard care or standard care plus an 8-week course of course of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Study measures were collected at baseline, immediate post-MBSR (within one week of completion of the MBSR class) and 6 months following completion of the MBSR course. Measures were obtained at equivalent time points for veterans randomized to usual care only. Following completion, veterans randomized to standard care only had the opportunity to enroll in MBSR.
This pilot study will whether there is sufficient evidence of benefit to warrant further study, and gathered data that will allow estimation of the sample size needed in future studies. We also obtained measures working memory and attention, in addition to patient self-report measures of symptoms, in order to provide additional assessment of whether MBSR is effective. This project is prerequisite to a larger study.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Arm 1 | Experimental | Behavioral: Mindfulness-based stress reductionParticipants in this arm undergo the mindfulness training intervention through taking part in a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course |
| Arm 2 | No intervention | –Treatment as usual for Gulf War Syndrome symptoms (medications, psychotherapy, etc.) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Chart Diagnosis of PTSD
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- any past or present psychiatric disorder involving a history of psychosis (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, psychotic disorder not otherwise specified, etc.)
- Mania or poorly controlled bipolar
- Current suicidal or homicidal ideation
- Prior training in mindfulness meditation
- Active substance abuse or dependence
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-based stress reductionMindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teaches mindfulness as a non-religious practice of self-observation and self-awareness. Kabat-Zinn developed MBSR in 1979 in response to a growing awareness that medical interventions were often inadequate at addressing chronic pain issues and restoring function and life satisfaction. He drew on his meditation and yoga training to develop this program as a complement to traditional medicine that could help patients live fully despite their chronic medical and psychiatric conditions. Through MBSR an individual's emphasis shifts from a preoccupation with what is wrong to a growing appreciation for what is right and what can be built upon. | Behavioural | Arm 1 |
Primary outcome
The Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire
Time frame: 2 months
The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire is a self-report 22-item measure that assesses various types of pain on a scale of 0 (none) to 10 (worst possible) experienced during the past week. Score ranges from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 220; the higher the score, the worse the outcome.
The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire
Time frame: 8 months
The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire is a self-report 22-item measure that assesses various types of pain on a scale of 0 (none) to 10 (worst possible) experienced during the past week. Score ranges from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 220; the higher the score, the worse the outcome.
Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory - General Fatigue
Time frame: 2 months
The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory is a 20-item self-report measure of various types of fatigue. Each item is a statement, and the subject indicates how much, on a scale of 1 (yes, that is true) to 5 (no, that is not true), he or she agrees with the statement (e.g. "I feel very active.") Scores range from a minimum of 20 to a maximum of 100; the higher the score, the worse the outcome.
Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory - General Fatigue
Time frame: 8 months
The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory is a 20-item self-report measure of various types of fatigue. Each item is a statement, and the subject indicates how much, on a scale of 1 (yes, that is true) to 5 (no, that is not true), he or she agrees with the statement (e.g. "I feel very active.") Scores range from a minimum of 20 to a maximum of 100; the higher the score, the worse the outcome.
Cognitive Failures Questionnaire
Time frame: 2 months
The Cognitive Failure Questionnaire is a 25-item self-report measure of cognitive difficulty during daily living in the past six months. Each item is a question indicating a situation involving a type of cognitive failure (e.g. "Do you find you forget why you went from one part of the house to another?"), and the subject indicates how often that happens to them, on a scale of 0 (never) to 4 (very often). Scores range from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 100; the higher the score, the worse the outcome.
Cognitive Failures Questionnaire
Time frame: 8 months
The Cognitive Failure Questionnaire is a 25-item self-report measure of cognitive difficulty during daily living in the past six months. Each item is a question indicating a situation involving a type of cognitive failure (e.g. "Do you find you forget why you went from one part of the house to another?"), and the subject indicates how often that happens to them, on a scale of 0 (never) to 4 (very often). Scores range from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 100; the higher the score, the worse the outcome.
8 secondary outcomes
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
Time frame: 2 months
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
Time frame: 8 months
PTSD Symptom Severity Interview (PSSI)
Time frame: 2 months
PTSD Symptom Severity Interview (PSSI)
Time frame: 8 months
PROMIS Fatigue
Time frame: 2 months
PROMIS Fatigue
Time frame: 8 months
Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire
Time frame: 2 months
Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire
Time frame: 8 months
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 Aug 2015.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
David J Kearney, MD principal investigator
VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Mindfulness-based stress reduction in people with Persian Gulf Syndrome, run by US Department of Veterans Affairs at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Aug 2015. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 17 Dec 2014). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
The Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (time frame: 2 months). The study lists 6 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Aug 2015; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 31 Oct 2026.