title: A yoga and compassion meditation program reduces stress in familial caregivers of Alzheimer's disease patients.
abstract: Familial caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease exhibit reduced quality of life and increased stress levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an 8-week yoga and compassion meditation program on the perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and salivary cortisol levels in familial caregivers. A total of 46 volunteers were randomly assigned to participate in a stress-reduction program for a 2-month period (yoga and compassion meditation program-YCMP group) (n = 25) or an untreated group for the same period of time (control group) (n = 21). The levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and morning salivary cortisol of the participants were measured before and after intervention. The groups were initially homogeneous; however, after intervention, the groups diverged significantly. The YCMP group exhibited a reduction of the stress (P < 0.05), anxiety (P < 0.000001), and depression (P < 0.00001) levels, as well as a reduction in the concentration of salivary cortisol (P < 0.05). Our study suggests that an 8-week yoga and compassion meditation program may offer an effective intervention for reducing perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and salivary cortisol in familial caregivers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-UNIFESP, 925, Rua Napoleão de Barros, 04024-002 São Paulo, SP, Brazil ; Departiment of Research, Instituto Appana Mind de Desenvolvimento Humano, 05436-020 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: M A D
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Danucalov
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kozasa
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Ribas
authors.forename: J C F
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Galduróz
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: I T N
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Verreschi
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romani de Oliveira
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Leite