Pranayama for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

This study aims to investigate the effect of pranayama (yoga-breathing techniques) on post-traumatic symptom severity in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder undergoing standard, out-patient, trauma-focused psychotherapy. Therefore, short pranayama sessions of 5-10 minutes will be provided to the patients directly at the begin of each of psychotherapy unit, while the control group will receive standard, trauma-focused psychotherapy alone.

Inclusion Criteria:Diagnosed PTSD according to ICD-10 F43.1PCL-5 Score of at least 33 pointsUndergoing outpatient standard trauma-focused psychotherapy (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, or Systemic Psychotherapy)Exclusion Criteria:Pre-existing mental or somatic conditions that are unlikely to result in correct or safe performance of pranayama:Substance dependence current use (ICD-10 F10.X, F11.X).Dementia (ICD-10 F00-F03)Somatoform Disorder (ICD F45.X) of moderate or severe degree according to DSM-5 300.82: ≥ 2 reactions (cognitive, emotional, or behavioral) to somatic symptoms (≥ 2 criterion-B)Severe cardiovascular disease: presence of cardiac or vascular implants or grafts, e.g., pacemaker (ICD-10 Z95.X), condition after organ or tissue transplantation (ICD-10 Z94.X)Acute adverse events occurring during pranayama at baseline (including neck pain, subjective sensation of pressure in the lungs, anxiety / panic)Cancer diagnosis in the past 5 years (ICD-10 C00-C97, D37-48)Pregnancy / breastfeedingRegular pranayama practice in the last 12 months