The Effects of Tai Chi on Sleep Quality in Chinese American Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: A Pilot Study.
This pilot study evaluated the effects of Tai Chi training on sleep quality (primary outcomes), and depression and social functioning levels (secondary outcomes) among patients with depression.



Sixteen depressed Chinese patients.



Participants received 1-hr Tai Chi training sessions 2 times per week for 10 weeks. Patients' subjective sleep quality ratings, objective sleep quality measurements, and depression and social functioning levels were measured before, during, and after the intervention.



Sleep quality and depression outcomes improved significantly. Patients reported improved Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores (9.6 ± 3.3 to 6.6 ± 5.2, p = 0.016), and cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC) analysis of electrocardiogram (ECG) showed decreased stable sleep onset latency (75.7 ± 100.6 to 20.9 ± 18.0, p = 0.014), increased stable sleep percentages (31.5 ± 18.7 to 46.3 ± 16.9, p = 0.016), and decreased unstable sleep percentages (45.3 ± 20.1 to 30.6 ± 16.5, p = 0.003). Patients also reported decreased Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D-17; 20.1 ± 3.7 to 7.8 ± 5.9, p < 0.001) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores (22.3 ± 9.1 to 11.1 ± 10.6, p = 0.006). Significant correlations were found between the changes in subjective sleep assessments ΔPSQI and ΔHAM-D-17 (r = 0.6, p = 0.014), and ΔPSQI and ΔBDI (r = 0.62, p = 0.010). Correlations between changes in objective sleep measurements and changes in depression symptoms were low and not significant.



Tai Chi training improved sleep quality and mood symptoms among depressed patients.
a Division of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Biotechnology , Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts.|b Sleep Center, Eye Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences , Beijing , China.
Yan
0000-0003-1173-2920
Y
Ma
c George Washington University , Washington, DC.
Alicia
A
Yeung
a Division of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Biotechnology , Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts.|d Department of Psychiatry , Taipei Veterans General Hospital , Taipei City , Taiwan.|e School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University , Taipei City , Taiwan.
Albert C
AC
Yang
a Division of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Biotechnology , Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts.
Chung-Kang
CK
Peng
f Depression Clinical and Research Program , Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts.
Alisabet
A
Clain
f Depression Clinical and Research Program , Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts.
Jonathan
J
Alpert
f Depression Clinical and Research Program , Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts.
Maurizio
M
Fava
f Depression Clinical and Research Program , Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts.|g Department of Behavioral Health , South Cove Community Health Center , Boston , Massachusetts.
Albert S
0000-0001-8018-998X
AS
Yeung
D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D026302:Tai Ji / Q000379:methods*