Multicomponent Yoga Intervention for Major Depressive Disorder

According to the World Health Organization, compared to two hundred health conditions, depression is ranked as the second leading cause of disability worldwide. The annual prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in the United States is estimated at 7% and the lifetime risk approximately 17%. Depression is associated with approximately 75% of all deaths by suicide, resulting in immense suffering for families and society at large. 83 billion dollars are spent per year on treatment and lost productivity related to the disorder. Current treatments for MDD have remission rates between 35-50%. Patients who respond to treatment, but do not experience clinical remission are at markedly increased risk for relapse. Approximately 50% of patients treated with two trials of antidepressant interventions do not achieve clinical remission. Consequently, novel evidence-based treatment modalities that can further treat this devastating disorder are needed. Mind-body interventions constitute a large and diverse group of practices that reduce both stress and inflammation and are increasingly being evaluated in the treatment of MDD The 2007 NHIS concluded that 16.6% of U.S. adults, representing 34.1 million Americans, used at least one mind-body intervention in the past year. Initial studies with different mind-body interventions have been shown to improve outcomes in MDD. A recent meta-analysis gave a Grade B for current evidence for the use of yoga as an intervention for MDD. Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) is a advanced yogic breathing intervention that has been reported to relieve symptoms of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. In MDD, SKY can correct the P300 amplitude, decrease plasma cortisol levels and increase plasma prolactin levels. In a small-scale randomized controlled trial, 45 consenting inpatients meeting criteria for DSM-IV severe, melancholic depression were randomized to receive SKY, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or imipramine treatment for four weeks (Janakiramaiah et al. 2000). Consequently, the rigorous evaluation of a multicomponent yogic intervention featuring SKY as an adjunctive treatment for adults with MDD warrants further study.

Inclusion criteria

• DSM-IV Major Depressive Disorder
• Able to give informed consent
• Aged 18-67
• Currently in outpatient care for MDD
• On a stable antidepressant regimen for at least 2 months
• 17-item Hamilton Depression Score >14 at screening & baseline visit

Exclusion criteria

• Currently in crisis requiring inpatient treatment
• Bipolar Disorder, Psychotic Disorder, ADHD, Substance Use Disorder
• Pregnancy, Epilepsy
• Initiating psychotherapy or other yoga/meditation program