Yoga as a Treatment for Mild to Moderate Major Depression A 12-Week Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Yoga and Education

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the antidepressant effects of yoga as a standalone treatment over 12 weeks in adults diagnosed with mild-to-moderate major depression. This interventional trial involves 180 participants and compares yoga interventions to an education control focused on holistic healthcare. The study aims to assess changes in depression severity using the Beck Depression Inventory-II and explores additional effects on stress and specific biomarkers linked to depression. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three in-person groups Standard yoga practice, Ayurvedic yoga practice, or educational attention-control modules. Each intervention consists of 90-minute group sessions held twice weekly for 12 weeks. The yoga groups combine to test overall effects compared to education, with further analysis comparing Ayurvedic and Standard yoga outcomes. During the study, blinded assessors will measure participants depression severity at multiple time points from baseline through 12 weeks. Secondary assessments include perceived stress scores and biological markers such as epigenetic clock methylation, inflammation factors, telomere length, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. These evaluations will help understand the broader impact of yoga on depression. The total participation spans the 12-week intervention period with ongoing monitoring and analysis.

Treating Major Depression With Yoga Mono-therapy