Development and feasibility of yoga therapy module for out-patients with depression in India. 


Author: Naveen GH, Rao MG, Vishal V, Thirthalli J, Varambally S, Gangadhar BN.

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India. 
Conference/Journal: Indian J Psychiatry.
Date published: 2013 Jul
Other:
 Volume ID: 55   ,  Issue ID: Suppl 3    ,  Pages: S350-6   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.4103/0019-5545.116305.   ,  Word Count: 297  
    

CONTEXT:

Evidence suggests that certain yoga practices are useful in the management of depression. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no study that deals with the formulation of a yoga module for the particular clinical features of depression.

AIM:

The main aim of our study was to develop a comprehensive yoga therapy module targeting specific clinical features of depression.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN:

Specific yoga practices were matched for clinical features of depression based on a thorough literature review. A yoga program was developed, which consisted of Sukṣmavyayāma, (loosening exercises), äsanas (postures), relaxation techniques, Prāṇāyāma (breathing exercises) and chanting meditation to be taught in a 2 week period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A structured questionnaire was developed for validation from nine experienced yoga professionals. The final version of yoga therapy module was pilot-tested on seven patients (five females) with depression recruited from outpatient service of National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore.

RESULTS:

The final yoga therapy module had those practices that received a score of three or more (moderately/very much/extremely useful) from all responders. Six out of nine (>65%) experts suggested Sūkśmavyāyāma should be included. Five out of nine experts opined that training with 10 sessions (over 2 weeks) is rather short. All experts opined that the module is easy to teach, learn and practice. At the pilot stage, the five patients who completed the module reported more than 80% satisfaction about the yoga practices and how the yoga was taught. Severity of depression substantially reduced at both 1 and 3 months follow-up.

CONCLUSION:

The developed comprehensive yoga therapy module was validated by experts in the field and was found to be feasible and useful in patients with depression.

KEYWORDS:

Antidepressant, depression, module, out-patients, yoga



PMID: 24049198 [PubMed] PMCID: PMC3768211