Intervention effect of Zimbardo time perspective therapy combined with mindfulness training on emotional symptoms, sleep quality, and biological mechanisms in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder

Objective To investigate the effects of Zimbardo time perspective therapy (ZTPT) combined with mindfulness training on emotional symptoms, sleep quality, and biological indicators in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Methods A total of 80 patients diagnosed with PTSD based on diagnostic criteria from January 2024 to December 2024 were selected and randomly assigned to an intervention group (n=40) and a control group (n=40).The control group received routine care, while the intervention group received ZTPT combined with mindfulness training in addition to routine care for a duration of 6 months.Before and after the intervention, the scores of the post-traumatic stress disorder checklist-civilian version (PCL-C), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAMA), Hamilton depression rating scale-17 items (HAMD-17), as well as the levels of serum cortisol (Cor), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were recorded in patients.

Results After intervention, the scores of PCL-C, PSQI, HAMA, and HAMD-17 of patients in the two groups decreased significantly (P < 0.01), and the scores in the intervention group were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).In terms of biological indicators, after intervention, the serum levels of 5-HT and SOD of patients in the two groups increased significantly (P < 0.01), while the levels of Cor, NE, IL-6, TNF-α, and MDA decreased significantly (P < 0.01).In addition, the levels of 5-HT and SOD in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01), while the levels of Cor, NE, IL-6, TNF-α, and MDA were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.01).

Conclusions ZTPT combined with mindfulness training can effectively alleviate PTSD symptoms, improve emotional symptoms, enhance sleep quality, and exerts these effects by modulating biological indicators.