title: A pilot feasibility and acceptability study of yoga/meditation on the quality of life and markers of stress in persons living with HIV who also use crack cocaine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Persons living with HIV (PLWH) who also use crack cocaine may have stressful, chaotic lives and typically do not engage in standard medical care that addresses a multitude of extenuating life circumstances. Yoga/meditation (YM) improves quality of life (QOL) and biomarkers of stress, but the effect of this intervention is almost unknown in PLWH, particularly those who use crack cocaine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study sought to compare the feasibility and acceptability of 60-minute, twice-per-week sessions of YM for 2 months with those of no-contact control and to evaluate the effects of the intervention on QOL (according to the Short Form-36, Perceived Stress Scale [PSS], and Impact of Events Scale [IES]) and salivary cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) among PLWH who use crack cocaine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomly assigned to YM or no-contact control and were assessed at baseline, 2 months after the intervention, and 4 months' follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The YM program was acceptable and feasible, with high overall attendance (89%) and individual participation in yoga sessions (83%). YM participants showed modest improvements on QOL. The PSS total score and the IES intrusion score improved significantly 2 months after the intervention, but cortisol and DHEA-S did not change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study showed a high level of feasibility and acceptability and modest effects on measures of QOL among PLWH who use crack cocaine. The results suggest utility of YM as a simple, safe, and inexpensive format to improve QOL in a population that has many medical difficulties and extenuating stressors.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine , Miami, FL.
authors.forename: Ram P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Adarsh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000821:virology*; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015013:Yoga
chemical_list: D016578:Crack Cocaine