Cortisol and antidepressant effects of yoga

Thirthalli, J ; Naveen, GH ; Rao, MG ; Varambally, S ; Christopher, R ; Gangadhar, BN (2013) Cortisol and antidepressant effects of yoga Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 55 (7). p. 405. ISSN 0019-5545

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Official URL: http://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.116315

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.116315

Abstract

Context: Hypercortisolemia is well-known in depression and yoga has been demonstrated earlier to reduce the parameters of stress, including cortisol levels. Aim: We aimed to find the role of yoga as an antidepressant as well as its action on lowering the serum cortisol levels. Settings and Design: An open-labeled study consisting of three groups (yoga alone, yoga along with antidepressant medication and antidepressant medication alone) was conducted at a tertiary care psychiatry hospital. Methodology: Out-patient depressives who were not suicidal were offered yoga as a possible antidepressant therapy. A validated yoga module was used as therapy taught over a month and to be practiced at home daily. Patients were free to choose the drugs if their psychiatrist advised. Patients (n=54) were rated on Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) with serum cortisol measurements at baseline and after 3 months. In 54 patients, assessments and blood test results were both available. 19 each received yoga alone or with drugs and 16 received drugs only. Healthy comparison subjects (n=18) too underwent morning cortisol measurements once. Results: Serum cortisol was higher in depressives compared with controls. In the total sample, the cortisol level dropped significantly at the end of treatment. More patients in the yoga groups had a drop in cortisol levels as compared to drug-only group. In the yoga-only group, the cortisol drop correlated with the drop in HDRS score (antidepressant effect). Conclusion: The findings support that yoga may act at the level of the hypothalamus by its 'anti-stress' effects (reducing the cortisol), to bring about relief in depression.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to Indian Psychiatric Society.
Keywords:Cortisol; Depression; Hypercortisolemia; Stress, Yoga.
ID Code:118702
Deposited On:28 May 2021 07:34
Last Modified:28 May 2021 07:34

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