Effects of a yoga program on cortisol rhythm and mood states in early breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy: a randomized controlled trial.
Objectives. This study compares the effects of an integrated yoga program with brief supportive therapy in breast cancer outpatients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy at a cancer center.


METHODS
Eighty-eight stage II and III breast cancer outpatients are randomly assigned to receive yoga (n = 44) or brief supportive therapy (n = 44) prior to radiotherapy treatment. Assessments include diurnal salivary cortisol levels 3 days before and after radiotherapy and self-ratings of anxiety, depression, and stress collected before and after 6 weeks of radiotherapy.


RESULTS
Analysis of covariance reveals significant decreases in anxiety (P < .001), depression (P = .002), perceived stress (P < .001), 6 a.m. salivary cortisol (P = .009), and pooled mean cortisol (P = .03) in the yoga group compared with controls. There is a significant positive correlation between morning salivary cortisol level and anxiety and depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Yoga might have a role in managing self-reported psychological distress and modulating circadian patterns of stress hormones in early breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy.
Vadiraja
H S
HS
Department of Yoga Research, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bangalore, India [corrected]
Raghavendra
Rao M
RM
Nagarathna
Raghuram
R
Nagendra
H R
HR
Rekha
M
M
Vanitha
N
N
Gopinath
K S
KS
Srinath
B S
BS
Vishweshwara
M S
MS
Madhavi
Y S
YS
Ajaikumar
B S
BS
Ramesh
Bilimagga S
BS
Nalini
Rao
R
Kumar
Vinod
V
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy; D015013:Yoga / Q000523:psychology*
D006854:Hydrocortisone