Positive therapeutic and neurotropic effects of yoga in depression: A comparative study.
BACKGROUND
Therapeutic effect of yoga in depression is recognized. Neuroplastic effects of antidepressant therapies are inferred by elevations in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Role of yoga in both these effects has not been studied.


METHODS
Non-suicidal, consecutive out-patients of depression were offered yoga either alone or with antidepressants. The depression severity was rated on Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) before and at 3 months. Serum BDNF levels were measured at the same time points. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was performed to look at change across groups with respect to HDRS scores and BDNF levels over 3 months of follow-up. Relationship between change in serum BDNF levels and change in HDRS scores was assessed using the Pearson's correlation coefficient.


RESULTS
Both yoga groups were better than drugs-only group with respect to reduction in HDRS scores. Serum BDNF rose in the total sample in the 3-month period. This was not, however, different across treatment groups. There was a significant positive correlation between fall in HDRS and rise in serum BDNF levels in yoga-only group (r=0.702; P=0.001), but not in those receiving yoga and antidepressants or antidepressants-alone.


CONCLUSIONS
Neuroplastic mechanisms may be related to the therapeutic mechanisms of yoga in depression.
Department of Psychiatry, Advanced Centre for Yoga, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
G H
GH
Naveen
J
J
Thirthalli
M G
MG
Rao
S
S
Varambally
R
R
Christopher
B N
BN
Gangadhar
Antidepressant; brain-derived neurotrophic factor; depression; neuroplasticity; yoga