title: Adjunctive yoga v. health education for persistent major depression: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to determine whether hatha yoga is an efficacious adjunctive intervention for individuals with continued depressive symptoms despite antidepressant treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized controlled trial of weekly yoga classes (n = 63) v. health education classes (Healthy Living Workshop; HLW; n = 59) in individuals with elevated depression symptoms and antidepressant medication use. HLW served as an attention-control group. The intervention period was 10 weeks, with follow-up assessments 3 and 6 months afterwards. The primary outcome was depression symptom severity assessed by blind rater at 10 weeks. Secondary outcomes included depression symptoms over the entire intervention and follow-up periods, social and role functioning, general health perceptions, pain, and physical functioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 10 weeks, we did not find a statistically significant difference between groups in depression symptoms (b = -0.82, s.e. = 0.88, p = 0.36). However, over the entire intervention and follow-up period, when controlling for baseline, yoga participants showed lower levels of depression than HLW participants (b = -1.38, s.e. = 0.57, p = 0.02). At 6-month follow-up, 51% of yoga participants demonstrated a response (⩾50% reduction in depression symptoms) compared with 31% of HLW participants (odds ratio = 2.31; p = 0.04). Yoga participants showed significantly better social and role functioning and general health perceptions over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although we did not see a difference in depression symptoms at the end of the intervention period, yoga participants showed fewer depression symptoms over the entire follow-up period. Benefits of yoga may accumulate over time.
authors.affiliation: Butler Hospital,Providence, RI,USA.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Uebelacker
authors.affiliation: Alpert Medical School of Brown University,Providence, RI,USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tremont
authors.affiliation: Eyes of the World Yoga Center,North Kingstown, RI,USA.
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Gillette
authors.affiliation: Butler Hospital,Providence, RI,USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Epstein-Lubow
authors.affiliation: University of California,San Diego, CA,USA.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Strong
authors.affiliation: Butler Hospital,Providence, RI,USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abrantes
authors.affiliation: Butler Hospital,Providence, RI,USA.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Tyrka
authors.affiliation: Alpert Medical School of Brown University,Providence, RI,USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: Butler Hospital,Providence, RI,USA.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Gaudiano
authors.affiliation: Butler Hospital,Providence, RI,USA.
authors.forename: I W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015013:Yoga
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
keywords: Hatha yoga; major depression