At a glance
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Treating Major Depression With Yoga: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial
In Brief
A clinical study evaluating Hatha Yoga Practice Group and Attention Control Education Group for Depression, Unipolar. Completed, enrolled 38 participants across 1 site.
Detailed Summary
This was a randomized controlled pilot trial to evaluate clinical efficacy and feasibility of hatha yoga as a mono-therapy for major depression. Investigators recruited 38 adults in San Francisco meeting criteria for major depression of mild-to-moderate severity, per structured psychiatric interview and scores of 14-28 on Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI). At screening, individuals engaged in psychotherapy, antidepressant pharmacotherapy, herbal/nutraceutical mood therapies, or mind-body practices were excluded. Twenty participants were randomized to 90-minute hatha yoga practice groups twice weekly for 8 weeks. Eighteen participants were randomized to 90-minute attention control education groups twice weekly for 8 weeks. Certified yoga instructors delivered both interventions at a university clinic. Primary outcome was depression severity, measured by BDI scores every 2 weeks from intervention start at 0 weeks until finish at 8 weeks. Secondary outcomes were self-efficacy and self-esteem, measured by scores on the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) at 0 weeks and 8 weeks. Blinded assessors analyzed whether change in outcome measures would be statistically comparable between the two intervention groups.
Study Details
Timeline
Interventions
The hatha yoga intervention was a sequence of classical yoga practices, comprised of breathing techniques, mindful body postures, and a final deep relaxation pose. The same sequence was used in all sessions. Yoga practices were broken down into component elements and taught progressively to each student in accordance with his or her ability. Participants were encouraged to remain within their range of motion or comfort. Accommodations were made for those with limitations in tolerance or flexibility for any exercise. Blocks, bolsters and other props were used to support participants in learning and holding yoga poses safely, particularly during back-bends or inverted poses. The intervention was delivered by a licensed, registered nurse, who was also a registered yoga teacher.
The educational seminars taught to participants covered the history and philosophy of the main branches of yoga. Documentary films were used during the seminars to enhance lectures, and interactive dialogue was encouraged between instructor and participants. Seminars were designed to control for non-specific mood benefits of study participation, such as attention from instructors, peer interaction, time spent away from routine activities, and anticipation/interest related to mastering novel yoga-related information. Since participants would join the attention control group on a rolling basis, seminars were designed to function as stand-alone educational modules, rather than requiring presentation in a specific sequence. The instructor for the seminars was a registered yoga teacher.