Yoga for Stress and Mental Health

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Physiological Stress, Psychological Distress, Depression, Anxiety

In brief

This study looks at an 8-week hatha yoga intervention for women reporting high levels of stress, a risk factor for various forms of psychopathology.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01652807

Run by

Southern Methodist University

People needed

52

Starts

2012-02-01

Expected to finish

2013-09-01

Last updated by the study team

2015-01-14

Who can join

Age: 25 and older, up to 45. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Female patients between the ages of 25 and 45. We only will only include women in this age range due to age-related variations in estrogen levels that effect HPA reactivity in women (Seeman, Singer, Wilkinson \& McEwen, 2001).
• Sedentary as defined by moderate-intensity exercise less than 60 minutes per week (this definition is consistent with that employed in previous studies of exercise interventions; e.g., Dunn et al., 2005; Trivedi et al., 2006). This criterion was selected in order to be able to test the effects of the yoga intervention.
• Written physician approval/medical clearance to participate in an exercise/yoga protocol.
• Capable and willing to give written informed consent, to understand inclusion and exclusion criteria.

You may not qualify if…

• Have practiced yoga or engaged in other mind-body practices (e.g., tai chi, meditation) regularly (i.e., once a week or more) within the last year.
• Lifetime history of psychotic disorders of any type, bipolar disorder (I, II, or NOS), schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, or anorexia nervosa.
• Current alcohol or drug dependence.
• Screening BDI ≥ 30 (severe depression).
• Known or suspected to have significant personality dysfunction that could, in the investigator's opinion, interfere with trial participation.
• Currently at risk of self-harm or harm to others, in the Sponsor's opinion, based on clinical interview.
• Currently a psychiatric inpatient; have been hospitalized for a psychiatric condition within the past year.
• Have ever been diagnosed with organic brain syndrome, mental retardation, or other cognitive dysfunction that could interfere with their capacity to participate in the study protocol.
• Body mass index ≥ 40 (in order to screen out individuals with Class III obesity who might be more prone to musculoskeletal injuries than individuals with a BMI < 40.0) or < 18.5 (in order to screen out individuals whose hormone levels may be impacted by their low weight).
• Resting blood pressure ≥ 160 systolic and/or 100 diastolic. Individuals currently being treated for high blood pressure and meeting these criteria are eligible.
• Receiving concurrent psychotherapy of any kind.
• Use of any psychotropic medications.
• Positive result on pregnancy test at Screening; plan to become pregnant during the course of the trial.
• Insufficient command of the English language (i.e., they cannot carry on a conversation with an interviewer in the English language or read associated text).

Where it is running

• Southern Methodist University — Dallas, Texas, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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