Hatha Yoga for Depression: Critical Review of the Evidence for Efficacy, Plausible Mechanisms of Action, and Directions for Future Research

Abstract

A literature search for clinical trials examining yoga for depression uncovered eight trials: 5 including individuals with clinical depression, and 3 for individuals with elevated depression symptoms. Although results from these trials are encouraging, they should be viewed as very preliminary because the trials, as a group, suffered from substantial methodological limitations. We would argue, however, that there are several reasons to consider constructing careful research on yoga for depression. First, current strategies for treating depression are not sufficient for many individuals, and patients have several concerns about existing treatments. Yoga may be an attractive alternative to or a good way to augment current depression treatment strategies. Second, aspects of yoga-including mindfulness promotion and exercise-are thought to be "active ingredients" of other successful treatments for depression. Third, there are plausible biological, psychological, and behavioral mechanisms by which yoga may have an impact on depression. We provide suggestions for the next steps in the study of yoga as a treatment for depression.

Mind–Body Approaches to Treating Mental Health Symptoms Among Disadvantaged Populations: A Comprehensive Review

“…[28][29][30][32][33][34][37][38][39][40][41][58][59][60] However, in a meta-analysis, Goyal et al (2014) found that meditation programs were similar in effectiveness to exercise, progressive muscle relaxation, or cognitive-behavioral therapy when compared with inactive controls. 31 In a meta-analysis of mindfulness-based therapies, Khoury et al (2013) found that these treatments were more effective than psychoeducation, supportive therapy, relaxation, and imagery, but they were not more effective than antidepressants or cognitivebehavioral therapy.…”

“…[28][29][30][31] Reviews of yoga as treatment for depression have found that participation in yoga-based interventions is associated with decreases in symptoms of depression and anxiety, improved quality of life and well-being, decrease in stress-related hormones (adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol), and improved sleep quality. [32][33][34] A study examining yoga as a complementary treatment for depressed patients taking antidepressants with residual depressive symptoms found that individuals who participated in a yoga intervention experienced significant reductions in depression, anxiety, anger, neurotic symptoms, limitations of role activities due to emotional problems, and low-frequency heart rate variability. 35 Mindfulness meditation involves intentionally paying sustained attention to ongoing sensory, cognitive, and emotional experience without elaborating or judging any part of that experience.…”

Yoga for Chronic Depressive Symptoms in Pregnancy: A Commentary and Call to Action

“…First, it is a commonly practiced PA modality in the United States and is generally easily available through in-person classes or internetbased resources [52][53][54]. Second, my team's research suggests that pregnant women are explicitly expressed interest in yoga for symptom management [55][56][57].…”

“…Even in a gentle form as with yoga, PA appears to have important antidepressant and anxiolytic effects [44,[63][64][65][66]. Findings from numerous studies suggest that yoga-based interventions may help decrease psychological and physical symptoms of depression in a variety of populations [52,67,68]. Fifth, yoga can contribute to positive experiences with PA, 55 which may, in turn, increase PA selfefficacy and enhance motivation for future PA behaviors [69].…”

“I’m 100% for it! I’m a convert!”: Women's experiences of a yoga programme during treatment for gynaecological cancer; an interpretative phenomenological analysis

“…Yoga has been identified as beneficial to psychological and physical well-being in a variety of healthy and non-healthy populations [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13], including cancer [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. Reported benefits of participating in yoga for cancer patients include reduction of treatment-induced side effects and relief of symptoms of the disease itself [14][15][16]: these are often measured on validated quantitative scales.…”