title: A Case Series on the Effects of Kripalu Yoga for Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
abstract: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a prevalent psychiatric disorder associated with substantial impairment and poor treatment response. Yoga influences processes that are linked to the maintenance of GAD including mindfulness, anxiety, and heart rate variability, but has yet to be evaluated among people with the disorder. The present study is a first step toward documenting the efficacy of yoga for reducing worry among people with GAD using a single-subject AB design case series and daily ratings of worry. Standardized self-report measures of worry, trait anxiety, experiential avoidance, mindfulness, and heart rate variability were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Three participants with primary GAD received eight twice-weekly Kripalu yoga sessions following a baseline data collection period. All participants showed systematic improvement in daily worry ratings on at least one index and all scores on self-reported measures of worry, anxiety, experiential avoidance, and mindfulness changed in the expected direction following yoga (with one or two exceptions). Participants also showed improved heart rate variability during a worry period from pre- to post-intervention. Yoga has the potential to improve the processes linked to GAD and should stimulate further research in this area.
authors: 1. Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA.
authors: Jessica R
authors: JR
authors: Morgan
authors: 2. Maryland University of Integrative Health.
authors: Marlysa
authors: M
authors: Sullivan
authors: 1. Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA.
authors: Akihiko
authors: A
authors: Masuda
authors: 1. Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA.
authors: Erin
authors: E
authors: Tully
authors: 1. Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA.
authors: Lindsey L
authors: LL
authors: Cohen
authors: 1. Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA.
authors: Page L
authors: PL
authors: Anderson
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019122:Meditation; D064866:Mindfulness; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015013:Yoga
keywords: case series; generalized anxiety disorder; heart rate variability; yoga