Treating Major Depression With Yoga: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

This was a randomized controlled pilot trial to evaluate clinical efficacy and feasibility of hatha yoga as a mono-therapy for major depression. Investigators recruited 38 adults in San Francisco meeting criteria for major depression of mild-to-moderate severity, per structured psychiatric interview and scores of 14-28 on Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI). At screening, individuals engaged in psychotherapy, antidepressant pharmacotherapy, herbal/nutraceutical mood therapies, or mind-body practices were excluded. Twenty participants were randomized to 90-minute hatha yoga practice groups twice weekly for 8 weeks. Eighteen participants were randomized to 90-minute attention control education groups twice weekly for 8 weeks. Certified yoga instructors delivered both interventions at a university clinic. Primary outcome was depression severity, measured by BDI scores every 2 weeks from intervention start at 0 weeks until finish at 8 weeks. Secondary outcomes were self-efficacy and self-esteem, measured by scores on the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) at 0 weeks and 8 weeks. Blinded assessors analyzed whether change in outcome measures would be statistically comparable between the two intervention groups.