SKY vs. HEP in PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the third most common mental illness with a lifetime prevalence rate of 9.2% in Canada. Depression and anxiety are common comorbidities making treatment complex. Currently available treatments for PTSD include medications and talk therapies. However, their best combined response rates are around 50%. Our recent pilot feasibility study showed potential benefits of a breathing based meditation intervention called Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) in PTSD, as an augmentation treatment. The investigators seek to now assess the safety and efficacy of SKY intervention compared to an active control, Health Enhancement Program (HEP) in a double blind randomized controlled trial. The investigators will include PTSD patients with a wide range of trauma experience including road traffic accidents, childhood, physical, emotional or sexual abuse, or recurrent traumas over the lifespan. Patients will be offered a 12-week program of either SKY or HEP interventions as an add-on to their existing treatment schedules. This study will examine if patients with PTSD experience a reduction in PTSD symptoms from baseline to 12-week follow-up, as measured by the PCL-5 after receiving either HEP or SKY.

STUDY DESIGN: Single-center, blinded (rater, investigator, and clinician), longitudinal, RCT comparing a 12-week SKY online intervention group to a 12-week HEP online intervention group.

STUDY RECRUITMENT: Participants include men and women (n=130), 18-75 years of age, with PTSD. The study will recruit via referrals from the General Adult Ambulatory, the Traumatic Stress Services Program (TSS), the PTSD clinical research unit and the Geriatric Mental Health Program of London Health Sciences Centre at an expected rate of approximately 1 to 2 participants per week. Referred participants will be individuals who in the opinion of investigators or referring physicians will likely meet inclusion and exclusion criteria. A letter will be sent to primary care physicians in London, ON and surrounding area requesting the referral of potential participants. The letter will be accompanied by a poster advertising the study and by a list of the studies inclusion/exclusion criteria. Posters will also be placed online on the websites of the studies investigators as well as websites and social media sites of relevant organizations such as Project Trauma Support and Ivegotyourback911. Online posters will indicate that individuals should not share or comment on posters to protect their identity. Printed posters will be placed in community centres, libraries, hospitals, medical centres, locations where veterans frequent, and locations where first responders work such as fire halls and police stations. Information sessions will be held at locations where first responders work or may frequent to inform potential participants about the study.

SCREENING AND INITIAL ASSESSMENT: Referred potential participants will be provided with a Letter of Information (LOI) to review and consider. Participants will be given a minimum of 24 hours to review the LOI before being contacted over-the-phone by one of the study Research Assistants (RA). During this initial phone call the RA will answer any questions the potential participants have, briefly explain the study, and invite potential participants to a screening appointment to be conducted either remotely or in person. During the initial screening appointment participants will complete the informed consent process which includes an opportunity to ask any questions. Participants will be screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria by a trained member of the research team. These participants will have clinically diagnosed PTSD, further confirmed through a structured clinical interview, the Clinician-administered PTSD Scale for DSM5-past month version (CAPS5). Any additional diagnoses will be screened by the MINI (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview). The CAPS5 will also be used to rule out severe depersonalization and derealization as per exclusion criteria. If the participant is above the age of 65 years of age, they will complete a cognitive screening test using the Mini Mental State Examination, MMSE\>24 to rule out significant cognitive impairment. Participants meeting all study criteria who wish to join the study will be enrolled and assigned a unique study identifier e.g. HEPSKY001.

RANDOMIZATION: Participants meeting inclusion criteria will be randomized to either SKY or HEP with equal probability (1:1), stratified by gender, using computer generated randomisation numbers. Concealment of randomisation to outcome assessors and investigators will be ensured by an independent consultant who will perform the randomization. The independent consultant will be responsible for randomization and will inform an unblinded study team member of allocation codes. The unblinded study team member will send an email to study participants informing them of their treatment allocation.

TRIAL INTERVENTIONS: The investigators will offer the two interventions, online via Cisco WebEx, in groups of 6-8 participants on a rolling basis 1. Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY): 1. Participants in the SKY group will undergo a 12-week training course conducted by certified teachers of the Art of Living Foundation. 2. HEP Intervention: Participants in HEP will learn about health promotion, healthy diet, music, and exercise, but will not learn breathing techniques, or meditation. HEP will be delivered by trained staff.

All participants will continue to receive standard care through their providers.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS PLAN: All statistical analyses will be run with the level of statistical significance set at 0.05. Independent samples t tests (for continuous variables) or chi-squared analyses (for categorical variables) will be used to identify whether any differences in demographic or clinical characteristics exist between patients assigned to SKY and HEP. Any variables showing statistically significant differences will be controlled for in the analyses, and sub-group analyses will be completed, as appropriate, to estimate the effect of various demographic or clinical variables. For our Primary Objective 1, the change in PCL-5 scores from baseline to 12-week follow-up of patients assigned to SKY and HEP will be compared using linear mixed models. This approach will account for the clustering of observations since both SKY and HEP will be delivered in a group setting. We will evaluate whether a greater proportion of patients assigned to SKY, compared to HEP, respond to treatment (decrease of at least 10 points on the PCL-5), or go into remission (defined as a PCL-5 score \<33), using generalized linear mixed models. In evaluating our Secondary Objectives; depressive symptoms, anxiety, and quality of life, the change score for each measure from baseline to 12-week follow-up of patients assigned to SKY and HEP will be compared using linear mixed models. In evaluating our Exploratory Objectives, linear mixed models will also be used to evaluate the change in levels of inflammatory markers and HF-HRV from baseline to the 12-week follow-up. Correlation analyses will be used to evaluate whether improvement in PCL-5 scores is associated with greater improvement in levels of inflammatory markers and HR-HRV. Lastly, we will evaluate whether the effects found at the 12-week follow-up are maintained at six months. The above analyses (linear mixed models and generalized linear mixed models) will be repeated for PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, anxiety and quality of life, comparing scores at baseline and six-months.

Interim analysis may be completed in order to meet one or more of these conditions a) sponsor reporting requirements and/or b) research training requirements of residents and/or c) data safety monitoring board meetings for stop or continue decisions. Prior research ethics board approval will be sought before any interim analysis is conducted.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Between the age of 18 and 75.
2. Has confirmed Axis 1 diagnosis of PTSD as per CAPS5
3. Sufficiently able to hear allowing them to follow verbal instructions. Able to communicate sufficiently in English.
4. Able to sit without physical discomfort for 60 minutes.
5. Willing and able to attend 6 initial SKY training sessions and 75% of follow up sessions.
6. Not pregnant and willing to remain not pregnant for the Duration of the study.
7. Access to a device with a camera and microphone, internet access, and a private space large enough to accommodate a yoga mat (a yoga mat is not required a comfortable floor space or blanket can be substituted).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Currently participating in other studies on PTSD treatment.
2. Score severe or extreme on Depersonalization (item 29) or Derealization (item 30) of CAPS5.
3. Have other significant mental health diagnosis including bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia, Neurocognitive disorder, and/or severe Personality Disorder (confirmed by Psychiatrist and MINI).
4. Have significant substance dependence, or for those that have significant substance use disorder (have been regularly using within 6 weeks prior to commencement of intervention) or are unable to attend the intervention and assessment sessions while not under the influence of a substance.
5. Have a risk of suicide as elicited by clinical interview (MINI).
6. Have psychotic episodes within the past 12 months.
7. Have a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as defined by loss of consciousness for more than 20 minutes and/or Glasgow Coma Scale score less than or equal to 12.
8. Non-professionals with complex PTSD. Professionals include those who have served in the Canadian armed forces, are public safety personnel or are health care professionals.
9. Currently practice any type of formal meditation, mindfulness or breathing techniques regularly.
10. Have serious cardiovascular disease in the past 12 months (i.e.myocardial infarction, stroke, uncontrolled hypertension or TIA), or a past history of neurological disease (including Parkinson's Disease), seizures, or diabetic neuropathy.
11. Major surgery within 8 weeks prior to commencement of the intervention, or a scheduled major surgery during the intervention period.
12. Have mental health difficulties that has prevented participant from leaving the house, and/or missed appointments in last 3 months.
13. Have vacation plans that will interfere with participant's ability to participate in the study.