title: Effects of an integrated Yoga Program on Self-reported Depression Scores in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Conventional Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of yoga program with supportive therapy on self-reported symptoms of depression in breast cancer patients undergoing conventional treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-eight breast cancer patients with stage II and III disease from a cancer center were randomly assigned to receive yoga (n = 45) and supportive therapy (n = 53) over a 24-week period during which they underwent surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) or chemotherapy (CT) or both. The study stoppage criteria was progressive disease rendering the patient bedridden or any physical musculoskeletal injury resulting from intervention or less than 60% attendance to yoga intervention. Subjects underwent yoga intervention for 60 min daily with control group undergoing supportive therapy during their hospital visits. Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) and symptom checklist were assessed at baseline, after surgery, before, during, and after RT and six cycles of CT. We used analysis of covariance (intent-to-treat) to study the effects of intervention on depression scores and Pearson correlation analyses to evaluate the bivariate relationships.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 69 participants contributed data to the current analysis (yoga, n = 33, and controls, n = 36). There was 29% attrition in this study. The results suggest an overall decrease in self-reported depression with time in both the groups. There was a significant decrease in depression scores in the yoga group as compared to controls following surgery, RT, and CT (P < 0.01). There was a positive correlation (P < 0.001) between depression scores with symptom severity and distress during surgery, RT, and CT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest possible antidepressant effects with yoga intervention in breast cancer patients undergoing conventional treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Healthcare Global Enterprises Ltd, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Raghavendra Mohan
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Healthcare Global Enterprises Ltd, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Nagarathna
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Raghuram
authors.affiliation: Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Healthcare Global Enterprises Ltd, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Nagendra
authors.affiliation: Department of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Healthcare Global Enterprises Ltd, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Usharani
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Healthcare Global Enterprises Ltd, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Gopinath
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Healthcare Global Enterprises Ltd, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Ravi B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Diwakar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Healthcare Global Enterprises Ltd, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Shekar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Healthcare Global Enterprises Ltd, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Ramesh S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Bilimagga
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Healthcare Global Enterprises Ltd, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Nalini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rao
keywords: Behavioral intervention; Cancer; Depression; Relaxation; Yoga