Efficacy of Yoga for Postpartum Depression

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Depression, Postpartum
• Interventions: Behavioral: Yoga

• Registration Number: NCT02213601
• Lead Sponsor: University of Iowa

Brief Summary

The aim of this project is to compare the efficacy of an 8-week yoga intervention, relative to a wait-list control (WLC) condition, for improving psychological functioning and health-related quality of life in depressed postpartum women. It was hypothesized that the yoga intervention would be significantly more efficacious than the wait-list control condition in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, and improving health-related quality of life, at the end of the 8-week yoga intervention.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2011-06
• Primary Completion: 2012-10
• Status Verified: 2014-08
• Study First Submitted: 2014-08-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2014-08-07
• Last Update Submitted: 2014-08-07
• Study First Posted: 2014-08-11
• Last Update Posted: 2014-08-11

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 57

Inclusion Criteria

• Score of 12 or greater on the 17-item Hamilton Depressing Rating Scale
• Participant must reside within a 30 mile radius of the yoga studios
• ≥ 6 weeks postpartum if delivery was either complicated and/or involved a cesarean section

Exclusion Criteria

• Current or past diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder, alcohol or drug abuse/dependence (except nicotine), or anorexia in the past year
• Acute suicidal or homicidal risk
• Current mental health treatment, including psychotropic medications or psychotherapy with a certified therapist
• St. John's Wort or Fish oil
• Practiced yoga at a studio with a certified yoga instructor within the past month
• Significant medical disorder (e.g., seizure disorder) that is contraindicated for exercise in postpartum women

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Yoga	Yoga	8-week Gentle Vinyasa Flow yoga intervention

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from baseline in depression on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) at week 8	Baseline, Week 8	The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) is a validated and reliable measure of the severity of depressive symptoms, and is used extensively in depression treatment studies. The 17-item HDRS is sensitive to treatment change in the postpartum population, and is a valid indicator of depression severity in postpartum depression despite the overlap between somatic HDRS items and typical experiences of postpartum women.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from baseline in traumatic intrusion symptoms on the Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Traumatic Intrusions Scale (IDAS) at week 8	Baseline, Week 8	The Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms (IDAS) is a 64-item factor analytically derived, multidimensional inventory that uses a 5-point Likert scale to assess symptoms of depression and anxiety over the past 2 weeks (1 = not at all to 5 = extremely). The IDAS has strong internal consistency reliability, with median coefficient alphas greater than .80, and has been validated for use in a postpartum sample. The Traumatic Intrusions scale is a 4-item measure that assesses symptoms traditionally linked to anxiety.
Change from baseline in panic symptoms on the Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Panic Scale (IDAS) at week 8	Baseline, Week 8	The Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms (IDAS) is a 64-item factor analytically derived, multidimensional inventory that uses a 5-point Likert scale to assess symptoms of depression and anxiety over the past 2 weeks (1 = not at all to 5 = extremely). The IDAS has strong internal consistency reliability, with median coefficient alphas greater than .80, and has been validated for use in a postpartum sample. The Panic scale is an 8-item measure that assesses symptoms traditionally linked to anxiety.
Change from baseline in social anxiety symptoms on the Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Social Anxiety Scale (IDAS) at week 8	Baseline, Week 8	The Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms (IDAS) is a 64-item factor analytically derived, multidimensional inventory that uses a 5-point Likert scale to assess symptoms of depression and anxiety over the past 2 weeks (1 = not at all to 5 = extremely). The IDAS has strong internal consistency reliability, with median coefficient alphas greater than .80, and has been validated for use in a postpartum sample. The Social Anxiety scale is a 5-item measure that assesses symptoms traditionally linked to anxiety.
Change from baseline in health-related quality of life symptoms on the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) at week 8	Baseline, Week 8	The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) is a well-validated measure of Health-related Quality of Life and consists of 36 items reflecting 8 domains of health: 1) role-limiting physical, 2) role-limiting emotional, 3) physical functioning, 4) social functioning, 5) mental health, 6) energy and vitality, 7) pain, and 8) general health perceptions.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Iowa; 🇺🇸 Iowa City, Iowa, United States