EFFECTIVENESS OF YOGA IN TREATING MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER AMONG WORKING POPULATION
B Vignesh Varun
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) July 31, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21729094 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review |
|---|---|
| Topics | Depression |
| Key findings | Argues that yoga serves as a safe, accessible, and effective adjunct to conventional treatments for MDD, offering benefits in reducing symptom severity and improving workplace functioning. |
Abstract
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, significantly impacting the working population by reducing productivity, increasing absenteeism, and impairing overall quality of life. Conventional treatments such as pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, though effective, often face challenges including high dropout rates, limited remission, and adverse side effects. This study investigates the effectiveness of yoga as a complementary therapy for MDD among working individuals. Yoga, a holistic practice integrating physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation (dhyana), has been shown to improve both physical and mental health outcomes. The research explores biological, psychological, and environmental factors contributing to depression, while emphasizing yoga’s role in regulating stress responses, enhancing neuroplasticity, and improving emotional resilience. Using a structured methodology, the study evaluates the impact of yoga interventions on depressive symptoms, work performance, and overall well-being. Findings suggest that yoga can serve as a safe, accessible, and effective adjunct to conventional treatments, offering significant benefits in reducing symptom severity and improving workplace functioning. The study highlights the potential of yoga in addressing the global burden of depression and recommends further research to optimize its integration into comprehensive treatment strategies.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synaptic Dysfunction in Depression: Potential Therapeutic Targets | 2012 | Review | |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: A New Approach to Preventing Relapse | 2003 | Review | |
| Synthesizing the Evidence for Ketamine and Esketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: An International Expert Opinion on the Available Evidence and Implementation Adults with treatment-resistant depression | 2021 | Review | |
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| Sudarshan Kriya Yogic Breathing in the Treatment of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Part II—Clinical Applications and Guidelines | 2005 | Review |