Studies Demonstrate Effectiveness of Yoga in Treating Depression

As a psychiatrist at the Wyandot Center, Christie Mensch provides outpatient services for adults. Christie Mensch comes to this role with experience in developing and implementing treatment plans for depression.

In early August of 2017, researchers from the United States and the Netherlands presented new research at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association. One pilot study, conducted through the Netherlands' Center for Integrative Psychiatry, offered weekly yoga classes of 2.5 hours each for nine weeks. The 12 participants, all of whom had struggled with depression for an average of 11 years and had continued to receive traditional treatment, reported a reduction in depression symptoms as well as in anxiety, stress, and ruminating thoughts.

Similarly, research out of Massachusetts General Hospital offered Bikram yoga training to 29 individuals with diagnosed depression. In general, symptoms decreased while positive cognition and quality of life improved. Bikram yoga also proved effective in a population of young to early-middle-aged women, who reported a particularly notable reduction in self-judging thoughts after yoga training.

The correlation between symptom reduction and yoga practice is consistent across studies that include a quality control group, the women's Bikram group being a positive example. Additionally, a follow-up study through the Center for Integrative Psychiatry showed a reduction of symptoms in college students with moderate depression, who fared better at the end of the study than peers who had participated in basic relaxation exercises.

Scientists stress that more research is necessary to determine best practices in using yoga as a treatment for depression. Potential factors to consider include type of practice, instructor qualifications, and role in a comprehensive treatment plan.