Yoga as a Complementary Treatment of Depression: Effects of Traits and Moods on Treatment Outcome

Abstract

Preliminary findings support the potential of yoga as a complementary treatment of depressed patients who are taking anti-depressant medications but who are only in partial remission. The purpose of this article is to present further data on the intervention, focusing on individual differences in psychological, emotional and biological processes affecting treatment outcome. Twenty-seven women and 10 men were enrolled in the study, of whom 17 completed the intervention and pre- and post-intervention assessment data. The intervention consisted of 20 classes led by senior Iyengar yoga teachers, in three courses of 20 yoga classes each. All participants were diagnosed with unipolar major depression in partial remission. Psychological and biological characteristics were assessed pre- and post-intervention, and participants rated their mood states before and after each class. Significant reductions were shown for depression, anger, anxiety, neurotic symptoms and low frequency heart rate variability in the 17 completers. Eleven out of these completers achieved remission levels post-intervention. Participants who remitted differed from the non-remitters at intake on several traits and on physiological measures indicative of a greater capacity for emotional regulation. Moods improved from before to after the yoga classes. Yoga appears to be a promising intervention for depression; it is cost-effective and easy to implement. It produces many beneficial emotional, psychological and biological effects, as supported by observations in this study. The physiological methods are especially useful as they provide objective markers of the processes and effectiveness of treatment. These observations may help guide further clinical application of yoga in depression and other mental health disorders, and future research on the processes and mechanisms.

Therapeutic Yoga: Symptom Management for Multiple Sclerosis

“…36 Yoga is classified as a form of CAM by the National Institutes of Health; the practice of yoga integrates the physical, mental, and spiritual components of an individual in order to improve health and well-being. 36 The past decade of research has demonstrated a variety of therapeutic benefits associated with the practice of yoga in treating many illnesses, chronic diseases, and disabilities, such as chronic pain, 36 high blood pressure, 37 autism spectrum disorder, 38 trauma, 39 Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, peripheral nervous system disorders, 10 fatigue and mood, 40,41 chronic insomnia, 42 depression, 43 heart attack and stroke, 36 and eating disorders, 44 as well as improved quality of life, 41 neuromuscular function, 45 flexibility, 46 and better physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness among patients with cancer. 47 For example, Carson and colleagues 47 looked at the effects of a novel yoga intervention-the Yoga Awareness Program-among 13 women with metastatic breast cancer.…”

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

“…[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. 36 Mindfulness-based interventions have collectively been shown to be at least moderately effective in improving physical and mental health.…”

Percepção de mulheres com hipertensão sobre a prática de ioga na saúde e na qualidade de vida

“…As afirmações acima vêm ao encontro com o que apontam os estudos que relacionam os efeitos da prática de Ioga em quadros depressivos 6 , em pessoas com ansiedade 7 e na melhora dos estados de ânimo em geral [23][24] .…”