Yoga for prenatal depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Hong Gong, Chenxu Ni, Xiaoliang Shen, Tengyun Wu, Chunlei Jiang
BMC Psychiatry February 5, 2015 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-015-0393-1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 375 |
| Population | Pregnant women, most between 20 and 40 years of age |
| Interventions | Yoga meditation physical-exercise-based yoga |
| Measures | Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale |
| Topics | Depression |
| Key findings | Across six randomized trials, yoga significantly reduced prenatal depression compared with control conditions (SMD -0.59, 95% CI -0.94 to -0.25). Subgroup analysis found integrated yoga, which adds pranayama, meditation, or deep relaxation, significantly lowered depression (SMD -0.79), whereas physical-exercise-based yoga alone did not (SMD -0.41). The authors suggest prenatal yoga may be effective in partly reducing depressive symptoms. |
Abstract
Prenatal depression can negatively affect the physical and mental health of both mother and fetus. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of yoga as an intervention in the management of prenatal depression. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted by searching PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and PsycINFO from all retrieved articles describing such trials up to July 2014. Six RCTs were identified in the systematic search. The sample consisted of 375 pregnant women, most of whom were between 20 and 40 years of age. The diagnoses of depression were determined by their scores on Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. When compared with comparison groups (e.g., standard prenatal care, standard antenatal exercises, social support, etc.), the level of depression statistically significantly reduced in yoga groups (standardized mean difference [SMD], -0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.94 to -0.25; p = 0.0007). One subgroup analysis revealed that both the levels of depressive symptoms in prenatally depressed women (SMD, -0.46; CI, -0.90 to -0.03; p = 0.04) and non-depressed women (SMD, -0.87; CI, -1.22 to -0.52; p < 0.00001) were statistically significantly lower in yoga group than that in control group. There were two kinds of yoga: the physical-exercise-based yoga and integrated yoga, which, besides physical exercises, included pranayama, meditation or deep relaxation. Therefore, the other subgroup analysis was conducted to estimate effects of the two kinds of yoga on prenatal depression. The results showed that the level of depression was significantly decreased in the integrated yoga group (SMD, -0.79; CI, -1.07 to -0.51; p < 0.00001) but not significantly reduced in physical-exercise-based yoga group (SMD, -0.41; CI, -1.01 to -0.18; p = 0.17). Prenatal yoga intervention in pregnant women may be effective in partly reducing depressive symptoms.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 11
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- Yoga in the NICU for parents (YIN): A pilot study on reducing stress in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. American journal of perinatology June 6, 2025
- Perceived Stress, Resilience, and Wellbeing in Seasoned Isha Yoga Practitioners Compared to Matched Controls During the COVID-19 Pandemic Frontiers in Public Health July 29, 2022
- Meditation‐based lifestyle modification in mild to moderate depression—A randomized controlled trial Depression and Anxiety March 21, 2022
- Perceived stress, resilience, well-being, and COVID 19 response in Isha yoga practitioners compared to matched controls: A research protocol. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications May 21, 2021
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