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Adjunctive yoga v. health education for persistent major depression: a randomized controlled trial
Psychological medicine
Short Title: Psychol.Med.
Format: Journal Article
Publication Date: Nov 30, 2016
Pages: 2130 - 2142
Sources ID: 30626
Notes: LR: 20180426; GR: R01 NR012005/NR/NINR NIH HHS/United States; JID: 1254142; 0 (Antidepressive Agents); NIHMS852580; OTO: NOTNLM; 2017/04/07 06:00 [pubmed]; 2018/04/27 06:00 [medline]; 2017/04/07 06:00 [entrez]; ppublish
Visibility: Public (group default)
Abstract: (Show)
BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine whether hatha yoga is an efficacious adjunctive intervention for individuals with continued depressive symptoms despite antidepressant treatment. METHOD: We conducted a randomized controlled trial of weekly yoga classes (n = 63) v. health education classes (Healthy Living Workshop; HLW; n = 59) in individuals with elevated depression symptoms and antidepressant medication use. HLW served as an attention-control group. The intervention period was 10 weeks, with follow-up assessments 3 and 6 months afterwards. The primary outcome was depression symptom severity assessed by blind rater at 10 weeks. Secondary outcomes included depression symptoms over the entire intervention and follow-up periods, social and role functioning, general health perceptions, pain, and physical functioning. RESULTS: At 10 weeks, we did not find a statistically significant difference between groups in depression symptoms (b = -0.82, s.e. = 0.88, p = 0.36). However, over the entire intervention and follow-up period, when controlling for baseline, yoga participants showed lower levels of depression than HLW participants (b = -1.38, s.e. = 0.57, p = 0.02). At 6-month follow-up, 51% of yoga participants demonstrated a response (50% reduction in depression symptoms) compared with 31% of HLW participants (odds ratio = 2.31; p = 0.04). Yoga participants showed significantly better social and role functioning and general health perceptions over time. CONCLUSIONS: Although we did not see a difference in depression symptoms at the end of the intervention period, yoga participants showed fewer depression symptoms over the entire follow-up period. Benefits of yoga may accumulate over time.