Treatment of chronic primary sleep onset insomnia with Kundalini Yoga: a randomized controlled trial with active sleep hygiene comparison
Author: Sat Bir S Khalsa1,2, Michael R Goldstein2,3
Affiliation:
1 Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital.
2 Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School.
3 Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Conference/Journal: J Clin Sleep Med
Date published: 2021 Apr 30
Other:
Special Notes: doi: 10.5664/jcsm.9320. , Word Count: 282
Study objectives:
Prior studies have suggested a benefit of yoga for alleviating sleep disturbance; however, many studies have had methodological limitations. This trial study aimed to extend that literature by including an active sleep hygiene (SH) comparison.
Methods:
Participants aged 25-59 with a primary complaint of sleep onset insomnia lasting at least six months were block randomized to 8-week Kundalini Yoga or SH intervention, both consisting of initial 60-minute instruction and weekly check-ins. Daily sleep diaries and questionnaires were collected at baseline, throughout intervention, and at 6-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models (N=20 in each group).
Results:
Participant ratings of the interventions did not significantly differ. SH improved several diary and questionnaire outcomes, however, yoga resulted in even greater improvements corresponding to medium-to-large between-group effect sizes. Total sleep time increased progressively across yoga treatment (d=0.95, p=.002), concurrent with increased sleep efficiency (SE; d=1.36, p<.001) and decreased sleep onset latency (SOL; d=-1.16, p<.001), but without changes in pre-sleep arousal (d=-0.30, p=.59). Remission rates were also higher for yoga compared to SH, with ≥80% of yoga participants reporting average SOL<30 minutes and SE>80% at 6-month follow-up. For over 50% of yoga participants, the insomnia severity index decreased by at least 8 points at end of treatment and follow-up.
Conclusions:
Yoga, taught in a self-care framework with minimal instructor burden, was associated with self-reported improvements above and beyond an active sleep hygiene comparison, sustained at 6-month follow-up. Follow-up studies are needed to assess actigraphy and polysomnography outcomes, as well as possible mechanisms of change.
Clinical trial registration:
Yoga as a Treatment for Insomnia (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00033865).
Keywords: behavior therapy; clinical trial; insomnia; meditation; sleep hygiene; yoga.
PMID: 33928908 DOI: 10.5664/jcsm.9320
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