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
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