Table 5.

Table showing studies examining yoga for depression.

Study	Sample	Treatment groups	Intervention	Duration	Outcome measurements	Findings	RCT	Evidence level
Shahidi et al. (2011)	70 depressed women aged 60–80 years from a cultural community in Iran with Geriatric Depression Scale score > 10	Laughter yoga (n = 23), exercise therapy (n = 23), and wait-list control groups (n = 24)	Laughter yoga consisted of brief talk about something delightful, clapping hands, simple chants simulating diaphragmatic breathing, Gibberish sounds. Combines yoga, breathing, and stretching techniques	10 sessions	Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale and Diener Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS)	Significant improvement in GDS scores in both laughter and exercise groups compared to controls but not when compared to each other	13 (not double blinded, funding information not given)	2 (Low quality RCT due to insufficient follow-up)
Krishnamurthy and Telles (2007)	69 participants (males and females), older than 60, living in a residential home	Stratified sampling and random allocation to yoga, ayurveda, wait-list control groups	Yoga consisted of 7 h 30 min weekly sessions of physical postures, relaxation techniques, regulated breathing, devotional songs, and lectures	24 weeks	Shortened version of Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)	The yoga group showed significant decrease in depression at 3 and 6 months compared to the ayurveda group	13 (not double blinded, funding information not given)	2 (Low quality RCT due to <80% follow-up rate)
Vedamurthachar et al. (2006)	Males aged 18–55 years with alcohol dependence, admitted for the first time to the de-addiction center of NIMHANS, not having serious medical illnesses, schizophrenia, or mania	SKY – Sudarksha Kriya yoga (n = 30) therapy, continued inpatient care (n = 30)	SKY consisted of practice of three distinct breathing patterns	2 weeks	BDI scores, ACTH, and cortisol levels	Statistically significant decrease in BDI scores in the SKY group compared to controls. Greater reduction in serum cortisol and ACTH levels in the SKY group	15 (not double blinded)	2 (Low quality RCT due to insufficient follow-up)
Woolery et al. (2004)	28 volunteers aged 18–29 years, with self-reported symptoms of depression, but not on psychotropic treatment and without previous exposure to yoga	Yoga (n = 13), wait-list control (n = 15)	1 h weekly Iyengar yoga classes, consisting of training in yoga postures	5 weeks	BDI, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Profile of mood states, morning cortisol levels	Statistically significant decrease in BDI scores, anxiety scores, and higher morning cortisol levels in the yoga group	13 (not double blinded, funding information not given)	2 (Low quality RCT due to insufficient follow-up)