Yoga for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Cramer, H; Lauche, R; Langhorst, J; Dobos, G

Yoga for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Cramer, H

Lauche, R

Langhorst, J Dobos, G

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Depression and Anxiety, 2013, 30 (11), pp. 1068 - 1083
Issue Date:: 2013-11-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Cramer, H https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3640-8046	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Lauche, R https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4171-7935	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Langhorst, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Dobos, G	en_US
dc.date.available	2013-07-13	en_US
dc.date.issued	2013-11-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Depression and Anxiety, 2013, 30 (11), pp. 1068 - 1083	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1091-4269	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/116644
dc.description.abstract	Background Mind-body medical interventions are commonly used to cope with depression and yoga is one of the most commonly used mind-body interventions. The aim of this review was to systematically assess and meta-analyze the effectiveness of yoga for depression. Methods Medline/PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and IndMED were searched through January 2013. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of yoga for patients with depressive disorders and individuals with elevated levels of depression were included. Main outcomes were severity of depression and remission rates, secondary outcomes were anxiety, quality of life, and safety. Results Twelve RCTs with 619 participants were included. Three RCTs had low risk of bias. Regarding severity of depression, there was moderate evidence for short-term effects of yoga compared to usual care (standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.69; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.99, -0.39; P <.001), and limited evidence compared to relaxation (SMD = -0.62; 95%CI -1.03, -0.22; P =.003), and aerobic exercise (SMD = -0.59; 95% CI -0.99, -0.18; P =.004). Limited evidence was found for short-term effects of yoga on anxiety compared to relaxation (SMD = -0.79; 95% CI -1.3, -0.26; P =.004). Subgroup analyses revealed evidence for effects in patients with depressive disorders and in individuals with elevated levels of depression. Due to the paucity and heterogeneity of the RCTs, no meta-analyses on long-term effects were possible. No RCT reported safety data. Conclusions Despite methodological drawbacks of the included studies, yoga could be considered an ancillary treatment option for patients with depressive disorders and individuals with elevated levels of depression. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Depression and Anxiety	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1002/da.22166	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Psychiatry	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Treatment Outcome	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Yoga	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Depression	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Depressive Disorder	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic	en_US
dc.title	Yoga for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	11	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	30	en_US
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	1701 Psychology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	11	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	30	en_US

Abstract:

Background Mind-body medical interventions are commonly used to cope with depression and yoga is one of the most commonly used mind-body interventions. The aim of this review was to systematically assess and meta-analyze the effectiveness of yoga for depression. Methods Medline/PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and IndMED were searched through January 2013. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of yoga for patients with depressive disorders and individuals with elevated levels of depression were included. Main outcomes were severity of depression and remission rates, secondary outcomes were anxiety, quality of life, and safety. Results Twelve RCTs with 619 participants were included. Three RCTs had low risk of bias. Regarding severity of depression, there was moderate evidence for short-term effects of yoga compared to usual care (standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.69; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.99, -0.39; P <.001), and limited evidence compared to relaxation (SMD = -0.62; 95%CI -1.03, -0.22; P =.003), and aerobic exercise (SMD = -0.59; 95% CI -0.99, -0.18; P =.004). Limited evidence was found for short-term effects of yoga on anxiety compared to relaxation (SMD = -0.79; 95% CI -1.3, -0.26; P =.004). Subgroup analyses revealed evidence for effects in patients with depressive disorders and in individuals with elevated levels of depression. Due to the paucity and heterogeneity of the RCTs, no meta-analyses on long-term effects were possible. No RCT reported safety data. Conclusions Despite methodological drawbacks of the included studies, yoga could be considered an ancillary treatment option for patients with depressive disorders and individuals with elevated levels of depression. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/116644