Comparing meditative scuba diving versus multisport activities to improve post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms: a pilot, randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Background Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a chronic and disabling disease that currently has no fully effective therapeutic solution. Complementary approaches, such as relaxation, sport, or meditation, could be therapeutic aids for symptom reduction. Scuba diving combines sport and mindfulness training and has been found to have a positive effect on chronic stress and PTSD. Objectives The first objective of this pilot study is to compare the effectiveness of diving associated with mindfulness exercises (the Bathysmed® protocol) with multisport activity in reducing PTSD symptoms. The secondary objective is to compare the impact of the Bathysmed® protocol on mindfulness functioning in the two groups of subjects suffering from PTSD. Method This proof-of-concept took the form of a controlled randomized clinical trial. The primary endpoint was the severity of PTSD symptoms, measured by the PCL-5 (PTSD Check List) scale. Half of the group were exposed to the Bathysmed® protocol (the experimental condition), and the other half to a non-specific multisport program. Results Bathysmed® protocol improved PCL-5 scores more than the multisport program but the result was not significant. The protocol was significantly better than the multisport activity in reducing intrusion symptoms of PTSD after one month. Globally, trait mindfulness scores improved up to one month after the course, but the result was not significant. Three months after the course, there was no difference between the two groups with regard to PCL-5 and Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory scores.. Conclusion Our study demonstrates the value of the Bathysmed® protocol even though it suffers from a lack of power and could only obtain partial but encouraging results. Mindfulness must be practiced over the long term to achieve stable benefits. This probably explains why no differences persisted three months after the course. Further work is needed to confirm the initial results obtained with this pilot study.

Randomized controlled trials of mind–body interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review

“… Yi et al (2022) evaluated the effect of a Kripalu yoga intervention for women diagnosed with PTSD resulting from motor vehicle accidents compared to a group discussion and board game control. Gibert et al (2022) investigated the effects of a meditative scuba diving intervention (Bathysmed) compared to a multisport control, which involved participants engaging in outdoor activities such as hiking or canoeing. The remaining MoBI study ( Goldstein et al, 2018 ) evaluated an integrative exercise program that combined traditional exercise with mindfulness-based practices tailored to veterans with PTSD.…”

“…No significant between-group findings were noted at 3-month follow-up. Gibert et al (2022) investigated a meditative scuba diving intervention (Bathysmed) against a multisport control intervention. They reported non-significant improvements in overall PTSD symptoms in the Bathysmed condition compared to the control condition.…”

Complementary and integrative interventions for PTSD

“…A mindfulness-based tai chi programme was shown to increase posttraumatic growth in ‘Effectiveness of a nurse-led mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan (MTCC) programme on posttraumatic growth and perceived stress and anxiety of breast cancer survivors’ by Zhang et al ( 2022 ). By contrast, a meditative scuba diving programme showed some initial advantage over a multisport programme on intrusion symptoms of PTSD, but no significant lasting differences were found in the Gibert et al ( 2022 ) ‘Comparing meditative scuba diving versus multisport activities to improve posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: A pilot, randomized controlled clinical trial.’…”

“…Strategies to improve behavioural uptake may optimize the impact of the intervention. Gibert et al ( 2022 ) Comparing meditative scuba diving versus multisport activities to improve posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: a pilot, randomized controlled clinical trial Intrusion symptoms were significantly improved by meditative scuba diving at one month, but faded after 3 months. The improvement in overall PTSD symptoms was not significantly different from the multisport programme.…”

Body‐and movement‐oriented interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder: An updated systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…In 11 studies, the presented data were in accordance with a prespecified analysis plan, and we had no reason to assume they were selectively reported (Hall et al, 2020;Kahn et al, 2016;Kelly et al, 2021;Lang et al, 2019;Nakamura et al, 2017;Nordbrandt et al, 2020;Reinhardt et al, 2018;Rosenbaum et al, 2015;Thorp et al, 2019;van der Kolk et al, 2014). The studies by Gibert et al (2022), Vera et al (2022), and Zaccari et al (2022) reported different secondary outcome measures than what was listed in the preregistered protocol. For the other studies, we did not find a prespecified analysis plan, leading to a categorization of "some concerns," but we had no reason to assume selective reporting.…”