The effectiveness of mindfulness yoga on patients with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Background Mindfulness yoga is a type of exercise that emphasizes the integration of mindfulness or meditation into yoga. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness yoga intervention on major depressive disorder (MDD) patients. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted by searching nine databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data knowledge service platform, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP) from inception to April 2023. Primary outcomes included the severity of depression. Secondary outcomes included anxiety and rumination. Results Nine RCTs met our inclusion criteria (n = 581). The meta-analysis showed that mindfulness yoga significantly has a significant effect on depression (SMD = -0.53; 95%CI = -0.96 to -0.11; P < 0.05) among MDD patients. The only two RCTs involved also showed that mindfulness yoga could alleviate the anxiety level of MDD patients after intervention (SMD = -1.08; 95%CI = -1.64 to -0.52; P < 0.05). Meta-analysis did not reveal positive effects of the mindfulness yoga groups on rumination after intervention based on three RCTs (SMD = -0.33; 95%CI = -0.89 to 0.23; P > 0.05), but found a significant difference in the follow-up period based on two RCTs (MD = -7.42; 95%CI = -11.27 to -3.56; P < 0.05), compared with the control groups. Conclusion Although we were unable to provide conclusive evidence to support the effectiveness of mindfulness yoga in improving symptoms in MDD patients, we found the literature included in this study indicated that mindfulness yoga might have a potential benefit for MDD patients and should be a feasible, acceptable, and promising intervention.

A prospective, controlled multisite trial of yoga in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease

“…Yoga is a mind–body practice that originated in India over 2000 years ago as one component of Ayurveda, a traditional healthcare system. Yoga has been shown to reduce stress and pain 1,2 as well as manage anxiety and depression 3 . Over a million children in the United States 4 use yoga, but rates in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are low, 5,6 with only 1.4%–16.3% using yoga or meditation.…”

“…Yoga has been shown to reduce stress and pain 1,2 as well as manage anxiety and depression. 3 Over a million children in the United States 4 use yoga, but rates in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are low, 5,6 with only 1.4%-16.3% using yoga or meditation.…”

Meta-analysis of a mindfulness yoga exercise intervention on depression – based on intervention studies in China

“…Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a systematic meditation training method based on positive thinking, which commonly includes positive meditation, body scanning and positive movement training (positive walking, positive yoga) ( You, 2020 ). Among them, mindfulness yoga is derived from the asanas of hatha yoga, which incorporates the skill of truthfulness in positive thinking into yoga postures, focusing on the integration of present moment awareness with the body, observing the reality of mind and body in the present moment, and accepting it as it is ( Miao et al, 2023a ). Gentle and soothing, the long-term practice of positive yoga can improve one’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual abilities, and is a form of exercise that achieves harmony and unity between body, mind and spirit.…”