title: Effects of a yoga program on cortisol rhythm and mood states in early breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Yoga Research, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bangalore, India [corrected]
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Vadiraja
authors.forename: Rao M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Raghavendra
authors.forename: Raghuram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nagarathna
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Nagendra
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rekha
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vanitha
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Gopinath
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Srinath
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Vishweshwara
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Madhavi
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Ajaikumar
authors.forename: Bilimagga S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Ramesh
authors.forename: Rao
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nalini
authors.forename: Vinod
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone