Treating Major Depression With Yoga: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Depression, Unipolar

In brief

This was a randomized controlled pilot trial to evaluate clinical efficacy and feasibility of hatha yoga as a mono-therapy for major depression. Investigators recruited 38 adults in San Francisco meeting criteria for major depression of mild-to-moderate severity, per structured psychiatric interview and scores of 14-28 on Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI). At screening, individuals engaged in psychotherapy, antidepressant pharmacotherapy, herbal/nutraceutical mood therapies, or mind-body practices were excluded. Twenty participants were randomized to 90-minute hatha yoga practice groups twice weekly for 8 weeks. Eighteen participants were randomized to 90-minute attention control education groups twice weekly for 8 weeks. Certified yoga instructors delivered both interventions at a university clinic. Primary outcome was depression severity, measured by BDI scores every 2 weeks from intervention start at 0 weeks until finish at 8 weeks. Secondary outcomes were self-efficacy and self-esteem, measured by scores on the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) at 0 weeks and 8 weeks. Blinded assessors analyzed whether change in outcome measures would be statistically comparable between the two intervention groups.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01210651

Run by

University of California, San Francisco

People needed

38

Starts

2010-05-01

Expected to finish

2011-01-01

Last updated by the study team

2017-01-11

Who can join

Age: 14 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Individuals 14 years of age and older
• English proficiency sufficient for study participation
• Diagnosis of Axis I unipolar major depression, per screening Mini International Neuro-Psychiatric Interview (MINI)
• Depressive symptoms of mild to moderate intensity, per score of 14-28 on screening Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI)
• Able to attend all required study sessions

You may not qualify if…

• Cognitive Impairment, as per Folstein Mini-mental Status Exam Score < 24
• Use of any antidepressant medication or herbal/nutraceutical mood therapy within the 2 months prior to screening, or during study period
• Use of psychotherapy during study period
• Use of any yoga or other mind-body practices during study period, other than study intervention
• Per screening MINI, diagnosis of any Axis I disorder other than unipolar major depression, such as bipolar disorder, dysthymia or anxiety disorders
• Per screening MINI, diagnosis of substance use disorders within prior 3 months
• Per screening MINI, current suicidal ideation or past suicide attempts
• Severe depressive symptoms, as per screening BDI score > 28

Where it is running

• University of California San Francisco — San Francisco, California, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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