Mindfulness-based yoga intervention for women with depression.
Katie J Schuver, Beth A Lewis
Complementary Therapies in Medicine June 2016 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2016.03.003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled pilot trial Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 37 |
| Population | Women with a history of diagnosed depression who were currently depressed |
| Interventions | pranayama meditation |
| Duration | 12-week intervention with one-month follow-up |
| Measures | Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS) |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Hatha yoga Nct02630758 |
| Key findings | Both mindfulness-based yoga and walking reduced depressive symptoms over 12 weeks and at one-month follow-up, with no significant between-group difference after controlling for baseline. The yoga group showed significantly lower rumination than the walking control at post-intervention after baseline adjustment, suggesting yoga may help manage ruminative thoughts in depressed women. |
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of a 12-week mindfulness-based yoga intervention on depressive symptoms and rumination among depressed women. Prospective, randomized, controlled 12 week intervention pilot study. Depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline, post-intervention (12 weeks), and one-month follow-up. Women with a history of diagnosed depression and currently depressed were randomized to a mindfulness-based yoga condition or a walking control. The mindfulness-based yoga intervention consisted of a home-based yoga asana, pranayama and meditation practice with mindfulness education sessions delivered over the telephone. The walking control condition consisted of home-based walking sessions and health education sessions delivered over the phone. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS). Both groups reported decreases in depressive symptoms from baseline to post-intervention, f(1,33)=34.83, p<0.001, and from baseline to one-month follow-up, f(1,33)=37.01, p<0.001. After controlling for baseline, there were no significant between group differences on depression scores at post-intervention and the one-month follow-up assessment. The mindfulness-based yoga condition reported significantly lower levels of rumination than the control condition at post-intervention, after controlling for baseline levels of rumination, f(1,31)=6.23, p<0.01. These findings suggest that mindfulness-based yoga may provide tools to manage ruminative thoughts among women with elevated depressive symptoms. Future studies, with larger samples are needed to address the effect of yoga on depression and further explore the impact on rumination.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 13
- Neuropharmacological modulation of the aberrant bodily self through psychedelics Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews December 6, 2019
- The effectiveness of mindfulness yoga on patients with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies September 8, 2023
- A mindful yoga intervention for young women with major depressive disorder: Design and baseline sample characteristics of a randomized controlled trial International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research February 17, 2020
- The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Yoga on Psychological Well-Being and Happiness in Individuals with Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine July 20, 2026
- Mindfulness mediates depressive symptom improvement during heated yoga: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial medRxiv July 10, 2026
and 8 more in the library
Cites 11
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- A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation versus relaxation training: Effects on distress, positive states of mind, rumination, and distraction Annals of Behavioral Medicine February 1, 2007
- Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica April 28, 2011
- Impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on attention, rumination and resting blood pressure in women with cancer: a waitlist-controlled study. Journal of Behavioral Medicine June 2012
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction for patients with anxiety disorders: evaluation in a randomized controlled trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy January 27, 2011
and 6 more in the library