There is a growing body of literature citing Yoga as an effective intervention for decreasing symptoms of depression. This naturalistic pilot study investigated the efficacy of the LifeForce Yoga Program in decreasing reported symptoms of depression and other mood symptoms. The sample consisted of 94 individuals who completed self-report questionnaire before participating in a five-day LifeForce Yoga training. 54 of these individuals completed the same questionnaire after two weeks of home practice following the training, and 33 participants completed these questionnaires two months after the initial training. Repeated measures ANOVA tests demonstrated a main effect for time, indicating that mean symptom scores decreased significantly across the assessment time points on nearly all of the outcome measures of interest. Post hoc t-tests showed that the statistically significant change occurred between Time 1 and Time 2, and was then largely maintained from Time 2 to Time 3. These results suggest that participation in a comprehensive Yoga program, designed specifically to address mood, can lead to decreased symptoms of depression and associated physical or mood states.
National Institute of Mental Health. Online Health and Outreach Publication: Depression. Available at: www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml. Updated April 3, 2008. Accessed May 16, 2008. www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition – Text Revision. Washington D.C.: Author; 2000.
Warden D, Rush AJ, Trivedi MH, Fava M, Wisniewski SR. The STAR*D Project results: a comprehensive review of findings. Current Psychiatry Reports. 2007;9:449–459.
Hollon SD, Jarrett RB, Nierenberg AA, Thase ME, Trivedi M, Rush AJ. Psychotherapy and medication in the treatment of adult and geriatric depression: which monotherapy or combined treatment? Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2005;66:455–468.
Psychotherapy and medication in the treatment of adult and geriatric depression: which monotherapy or combined treatment?
, Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
, vol. 66
(pg. 455
-468
) March JS, Silva S, Petrycki S et al. Fluoxetine, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and their combination for adolescents with depression: Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study (TADS) randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association . 2004;292:807–820.
Murphy GE, Carney RM, Knesevich MA, Wetzel, RD, Whitworth, P. Cognitive behavior therapy, relaxation training, and tricyclic antidepressant medication in the treatment of depression. Psychological Reports. 1995;77:403–420.
Reynolds WM, Coats KI. A comparison of cognitive-behavioral therapy and relaxation training for the treatment of depression in adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1986;54:653–660.
A comparison of cognitive-behavioral therapy and relaxation training for the treatment of depression in adolescents.
, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.
, vol. 54
(pg. 653
-660
) Kabat-Zinn J. Bringing mindfulness to medicine. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2005;11:56–64.
Bringing mindfulness to medicine.
, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine.
, vol. 11
(pg. 56
-64
) Teasdale JD, Segal ZV, Williams JM, Ridgeway VA, Soulsby JM, Lau MA. Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 2000:68:615–623.
Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
, vol. 68
(pg. 615
-623
) Linehan MM, Dimeff LA, Koerner K. Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Clinical Practice: Applications across Disorders and Settings. New York, NY: The Guilford Press; 2007.
,
Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Clinical Practice: Applications across Disorders and Settings.
Lawlor DA, Hopker SW. The effectiveness of exercise as an intervention in the management of depression: systematic review and meta-regression analysis of randomized controlled trials. British Medical Journal. 2001;322(7289):763–767.
The effectiveness of exercise as an intervention in the management of depression: systematic review and meta-regression analysis of randomized controlled trials.
, British Medical Journal.
, vol. 322
pg. 763–767
Stathopoulou G, Powers MB, Berry AC, Smits JAJ, Otto MW. Exercise interventions for mental health: a quantitative and qualitative review. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice. 2006;13:179–193.
Exercise interventions for mental health: a quantitative and qualitative review.
, Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice.
, vol. 13
(pg. 179
-193
) Khalsa SB. Yoga as a therapeutic intervention: a bibliometric analysis of published research studies. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 2004;48:269–285.
Pilkington K, Kirkwood G, Rampes H, Richardson J. Yoga for depression: the research evidence. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2005;89:13–24.
Rohini V, Pandey RS, Janakiramaiah N, Gangadhar BN, Vedamurthachar A. A comparative study of full and partial Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) in major depressive disorder. National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences Journal. 2000;18:53-57.
A comparative study of full and partial Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) in major depressive disorder.
, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences Journal.
, vol. 18
(pg. 53
-57
) Woolery A, Myers H, Sternlieb B, Zeltzer L. A Yoga intervention for young adults with elevated symptoms of depression. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2004;10(2):60-63.
A Yoga intervention for young adults with elevated symptoms of depression.
, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine.
, vol. 2
(pg. 60
-63
) Krishnamurthy MN, Telles S. Assessing depression following two ancient Indian interventions: effects of Yoga and ayurveda on older adults in a residential home. Journal of Gerontological Nursing. 2005;33:17-23.
Assessing depression following two ancient Indian interventions: effects of Yoga and ayurveda on older adults in a residential home.
, Journal of Gerontological Nursing.
, vol. 33
(pg. 17
-23
) Hadi N, Hadi N. Effects of hatha Yoga on well-being in healthy adults in Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran. Eastern Mediterranean HealthJournal. 2007;13:829-837.
Effects of hatha Yoga on well-being in healthy adults in Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran. Eastern Mediterranean Health
, Journal.
, vol. 13
(pg. 829
-837
) Barnes PM, Powell-Griner E, McFann K, Nahin RL. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults: United States, 2002. Advanced Data Solutions. 2002;27:1-19.
Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults: United States, 2002.
, Advanced Data Solutions.
, vol. 27
(pg. 1
-19
) Elkins G, Rajab MH, Marcus J. Complementary and alternative medicine use by psychiatric inpatients. Psychological Reports. 2005;96:163-166.
Broota A, Dhir R. Efficacy of two relaxation techniques in depression. Journal of Personality and Clinical Studies. 1990;6:83-90.
Efficacy of two relaxation techniques in depression.
, Journal of Personality and Clinical Studies.
, vol. 6
(pg. 83
-90
) Janakiramajah N, Gangadhar BN, Naga Venkatesha Murthy PJ, et al. Antidepressant efficacy of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) in melancholia: a randomized comparison with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and imipramine. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2000;5:255-259.
Antidepressant efficacy of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) in melancholia: a randomized comparison with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and imipramine.
, Journal of Affective Disorders.
, vol. 5
(pg. 255
-259
) Kumar SS, Kaur P, Kaur S. Effectiveness of Shavâsana on depression among university students. Indian Journal of Clinical Psychology. 1993;20: 82-87.
Effectiveness of Shavâsana on depression among university students.
, Indian Journal of Clinical Psychology.
, vol. 20
(pg. 82
-87
) Kjellgren A, Bood SA, Axelsson K, Norlander T, Saatcioglu F. Wellness through a comprehensive Yoga breathing program: a controlled pilot trial. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2007;7:43.
Wellness through a comprehensive Yoga breathing program: a controlled pilot trial.
, BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
, vol. 7
pg. 43
Shapiro D, Cook IA, Davydov DM, Ottavani C, Leuchter AF, Abrams M. Yoga as a complementary treatment to depression: effects of traits and moods on treatment outcome. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2007;4:493-502.
Yoga as a complementary treatment to depression: effects of traits and moods on treatment outcome.
, Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
, vol. 4
(pg. 493
-502
) Sharma VK, Das S, Mondal S, Goswampi U, Ghandi A. Effect of Sahaj Yoga on depressive disorders. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 2005;49:462-468.
Effect of Sahaj Yoga on depressive disorders.
, Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology.
, vol. 49
(pg. 462
-468
) Smith C, Hancock H, Blake-Mortimer J, Eckert K. A randomized comparative trial of Yoga and relaxation to reduce stress and anxiety. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2007;15:77-83.
A randomized comparative trial of Yoga and relaxation to reduce stress and anxiety.
, Complementary Therapies in Medicine.
, vol. 15
(pg. 77
-83
) Vedamurthachar A, Janakiramaiah N, Hegde JM. Antidepressant ef-efficacy and hormonal effects of Sudarshana Kriya Yoga (SKY) in alcohol dependent individuals. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2006;94:249-253.
Antidepressant ef-efficacy and hormonal effects of Sudarshana Kriya Yoga (SKY) in alcohol dependent individuals.
, Journal of Affective Disorders.
, vol. 94
(pg. 249
-253
) Weintraub A. Yoga for depression: a compassionate guide to relieve suffering through Yoga. New York, NY: Broadway Books; 2004.
,
Yoga for depression: a compassionate guide to relieve suffering through Yoga.
Shacham S. A shortened version of the Profile of Mood States. Journal of Personality Assessment. 1983;47:305-306.
A shortened version of the Profile of Mood States.
, Journal of Personality Assessment.
, vol. 47
(pg. 305
-306
) Beck AT, Steer RA, Brown GK. Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition:Manual. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation; 1996.
,
Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition:Manual.
This content is only available as a PDF.
