title: Randomized Controlled Trial in Advance Stage Breast Cancer Patients for the Effectiveness on Stress Marker and Pain through Sudarshan Kriya and Pranayam.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to examine the effect of a cognitive, behavioral stress management module of Sudarshan Kriya (SK) and P on levels of serum cortisol and pain among the women suffering from advanced stage breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n = 147) were screened and randomized to receive standard care (n = 69) versus standard along with SK and Pranayam (P) intervention (n = 78) imparted in one 18 hrs workshop spread during 3 days. Participants were expected to practice it at home 20 min daily as adjuvant to standard pharmacological treatment for pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in blood cortisol levels after 3 months of practice of SK and P. Mean blood levels in the intervention arm were 341.2 ng/ml against 549.2 ng/ml in the control arm (P ≤ 0.002). Pain perception in comparison to control arm reduced by 3 points in SK and P arm on 0-10 verbal scale of pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SK and P is an effective intervention in reducing stress and pain among advance stage patients of breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Indian Council of Medical Research, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Neeta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of IRCH, Pain and Palliative care, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Sushma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
authors.affiliation: Department of Ocular Pharmacology & Pharmacy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Velpandian
authors.affiliation: Department of Ocular Pharmacology & Pharmacy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Santosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patnaik
authors.affiliation: Indian Council of Medical Research, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Geetha
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Manju
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Department of IRCH, Pain and Palliative care, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Komal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kashyap
authors.affiliation: Indian Council of Medical Research, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Vishwajeet
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of IRCH, Pain and Palliative care, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.lastname: Surajpal
keywords: Cancer; Pain; Pranayam; Stress; Sudarshan kriya; Yoga