Findings seen in a literature review and meta-analysis for adults with diagnosed mental health disorders
TUESDAY, May 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Yoga is associated with a reduction in depressive symptoms among adults with a diagnosed mental health disorder, according to a review published online May 18 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Jacinta Brinsley, from the University of South Australia in Adelaide, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review to identify randomized controlled trials comparing a physically active yoga intervention to a waitlist control among adults with a recognized diagnosed mental disorder.
The researchers identified 19 studies (1,080 participants) but included only 13 studies (632 participants) in the meta-analysis. There were greater reductions in depressive symptoms with yoga than waitlist treatment (standardized mean difference, 0.41). The investigators also found an association between a higher frequency of yoga sessions per week and greater reductions in depressive symptoms (β = −0.44).
“Consideration of yoga as an evidence-based exercise modality alongside conventional forms of exercise is warranted, given the positive results of this review,” the authors write.
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