Effect of Yoga on the Stress, Anxiety, and Depression of COVID-19-Positive Patients. A Quasi-Randomized Controlled Study. International Journal of Yoga therapy 2022 (32)

Abstract

Background and aim: - Due to the spread of COVID-19 there have been reports of increase in stress, anxiety, and depression across the society, especially so in the affected people, impacting the mental health and well-being. This paper reports a quasi-randomized control study conducted in covid wards of a hospital, to examine the efficacy of add-on yoga intervention in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression in the covid affected patients under quarantine. The oxygen saturation level (SPO2) and heart rate (HR) of the covid affected patients were also measured along with the stress.Experimental procedure: - A total of sixty-two COVID-19 positive patients participated in the study. The participants were randomized into the control group (n=31) which received conventional medical treatment alone and the yoga intervention group (n=31) which additionally received 50 minutes of yoga intervention along with conventional medical treatment. Standardized scales of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-14), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) were administered at the beginning as well as at the end of the quarantine period.Results: - A significant decrease in stress, anxiety and depression were observed in the patients who undertook the add-on yoga intervention. Also, improvement in SPO2 and HR levels were observed in the group of patients who were practicing yoga.Conclusion- Findings of this study suggest that add-on Yoga intervention can be an effective add-on practice in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression level of COVID-19 patients.