Archive for the ‘Yoga Science Depression’ Category

Research paper by Hong Gong, Chenxu Ni, Xiaoliang Shen, Tengyun Wu, Chunlei Jiang. BMC Psychiatry. 2015;15:14. doi: 10.1186/s12888-015-0393-1

A literature review of previously published studies, this inquiry examined the effectiveness of yoga as an intervention for prenatal depression. The authors selected six randomized, controlled trials of women with prenatal depression for systematic review and meta-analysis, and concluded that yoga can be effective in reducing depressive symptoms in this population.

The six studies reviewed by the investigators comprised 375 pregnant women. Most subjects were between 20 and 40 years of age. Four studies enrolled women diagnosed with depression; two included non-depressed pregnant women. In each study, subjects were randomized to either a yoga group or a comparison (control) group. Comparison treatments (eg, standard prenatal care, social support) varied among the studies, as did the yoga interventions. Three trials used what the investigators described as “exercise-based yoga,” that is, including stretching and yoga postures only. The other three trials reviewed used “integrated yoga,” defined by the investigators as including pranayama, meditation, and deep relaxation along with yoga postures.

Analysis of overall effect in the six studies showed that the yoga interventions lead to statistically significant reduced levels of prenatal depressive symptoms vs controls. However, when the investigators pooled (ie, combined) data to compare effects of the two types of yoga interventions used, analysis showed that depression levels were significantly decreased in the integrated yoga subgroup, but not in the exercise-based yoga subgroup.

The investigators concluded that “prenatal yoga may be helpful to decrease maternal depressive symptoms,” and that “both depressed and non-depressed pregnant women can benefit from yoga.” They added that “compared with exercise-based yoga . . . integrated yoga may be a better choice for pregnant women.”

Research paper by Patricia Anne Kinser, R.K. Elswick, Susan Korstein. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing. 2014;28(6):377-383. doi: 10.1016/j.apnu.2014.08.014 

This randomized, controlled study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and effects of a gentle Hatha yoga intervention for women with major depressive disorder (MDD). Data gathered 1 year after an 8-week yoga intervention program suggested that yoga offers sustained positive effects on MDD, with subjects showing improvements in depression, ruminations (persistent negative thoughts), stress, anxiety, and health-related quality-of-life outcomes measures.

For the initial 8-week study (see Kinser et al, 2013 in the Yoga Science Research Guide), participants were randomized into one of two groups: a yoga group or a health education group (control). The yoga group received weekly 75-minute yoga sessions (in local yoga studios) and were asked to practice daily at home. (A DVD and class handouts were provided). Yoga sessions included pranayama, gentle asana, meditation, and deep relaxation. Subjects in the control group received weekly 75-minute health education sessions (including lectures, videos, and discussions) on topics such as sleep, nutrition, heart health, and depression. These sessions were lead by registered nurses.

Data revealed that subjects in both groups experienced decreases in depression scores over time, but the decreases were statistically significant only in yoga subjects.

Of the 27 participants enrolled in the study, 18 completed the 8-week intervention. Nine of these participants were available for 1-year follow-up. Data revealed that subjects in both groups experienced decreases in depression scores over time, but the decreases were statistically significant only in yoga subjects. The yoga subjects also showed a significant decrease in rumination scores.

Furthermore, the positive effects of the yoga intervention appeared to be sustained whether or not subjects continued with yoga on their own post-study. The importance of this finding was stressed by the investigators, who noted that interventions (pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic) for MDD rarely offer sustained benefit, particularly after treatment is discontinued.

Research paper by Patricia Anne Kinser, Cheryl Bourguignon, Ann Gill Taylor, Richard Steeves. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. 2013;34:402-411. doi: 10.3109/01612840.2012.762959

This short-term study–the treatment arm of the randomized, controlled parent study (see Kinser et al, 2014) that is also summarized in the Yoga Science Research Guide–documented the experiences of the 12 participants who completed an 8-week gentle yoga intervention for women with major depressive disorder (MDD). As noted above, the yoga group received weekly 75-minute yoga sessions (in local yoga studios) and were asked to practice daily at home. Data were collected at the end of the 8-week intervention via interviews with participants and through examination of participants’ daily log entries. Analysis revealed that yoga was a beneficial influence on key components of depression, identified in this study as stress, ruminations (persistent negative thoughts), and isolation.

The yogic techniques taught during the 8-week program offered self-care benefits that helped ease depressive symptoms. Subjects reported that they learned to interrupt their patterns of negative thinking, gained more self-awareness, slept better, and felt more in control of their lives. In her daily log, one participant noted that “ . . . when you know yourself better, when you know your body and mind better, you start using them in healthier ways.”

“As a mechanism for providing moments of calm, self-focus, and connection in women with depression, yoga may serve a broad social need whereby individuals seek practices that heighten self-awareness and inner healing.” -Kinser et al, 2013

Yoga also had a positive impact on feelings of isolation. The weekly practice sessions got participants out of the house, created a shared experience and a sense of community with others, and offered a safe and nurturing environment.

“As a mechanism for providing moments of calm, self-focus, and connection in women with depression, yoga may serve a broad social need whereby individuals seek practices that heighten self-awareness and inner healing,” the investigators concluded, adding that further long-term research is warranted to continue to investigate yoga as an intervention for women with MDD.