An interventional study of Adjuvant yoga intervention in Unipolar Depression, sponsored by University of Pittsburgh. Recruiting at 1 site in India. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 60 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-03-27.
Sponsored by University of Pittsburgh · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
It is evident from recent studies that cognitive deficits persist even after remission of depressive episode. Hence, in this study, the investigators would like to see whether specific Yoga practice will help in enhancing cognitive abilities in this population.
Depression is a common mental health condition affecting many people around the world. It affects the person's mood, thinking (cognition), behavior and also physical health causing difficulty in performing duties in efficient way. Most of these problems can be treated by medicines and/or talk therapies. But the research shows that even after the recovery from most of these problems, most individuals continue to have difficulties in capacity to think properly, they are specifically called as dysfunction in executive functions of our mind. The executive functions are a set of skills which make us possible to play with ideas, taking time to think before acting, meeting novel, unanticipated challenges, resisting temptations, staying focused., etc.
To overcome these problems currently there is no standard solution. However, the previous studies have shown that specific Yoga practices help in overcoming these challenges in general population. Hence it is planned of testing whether regular practice of a specific Yoga along with ongoing treatment for depression would benefit persons in enhancing their thinking capabilities.
Screening procedure:
The screening will be a verbal process where the patient will be verbally asked about the symptoms to check eligibility criteria of this study. If the patient is not eligible after completing this questionnaire, then the participation in this study will end.
(PS: Screening procedures for the study eligibility may involve the review and collection of information from patient's medical record.) This will be followed by obtaining written informed consent from the patient if the person considers participating in the study.
The eligible and consenting participants will be screened for severity of depression using a questionnaire.
After successful entry into the study, the patient will be asked about the demographic details including medical, treatment history.
Later, base line assessments to assess the cognitive functions will be done by the SRF. They are pen and paper tests. Total 3 types of tests will be done which may take around 25 to 30 minutes..
Total duration - 10 weeks (including 6 weeks of active participation) After the final assessment the TAU participant will be given an option for joining yoga sessions provided in the yoga center at NIMHANS. But this will not be the part of this study Assessment sessions - 3 and Time interval for assessment - Baseline - 6 weeks - 4 weeks
4,845 studies on the registry are indexed under Depressive Disorder; 514 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 32 is below the median of 80 across 3,999 interventional studies indexed under Depressive Disorder.
Browse Depressive Disorder studies →University of Pittsburgh is the lead sponsor of 1,385 studies on the registry; 167 are open to participants now.
Of its 8 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 4 (50%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
The yoga group will attend the yoga under the guidance of a therapist for 6 weeks (6 days a week).yoga group, the participant needs to attend Specific Yoga Practices of duration around 1 Hour every day under a trained therapist for about 6 days in a week for 6 weeks, along with your ongoing medications (online/offline).. It includes warme up exercises and asanas.
Behavioral: Adjuvant yoga intervention
The treatment-as-usual group will continue with usual treatment.the treatment as usual group will continue the ongoing medications for next 6 weeks. But participants will be coming for cognitive assessments at the end of 6 weeks and 4 weeks later. After the final assessment they will be given an option for joining yoga sessions provided in the yoga center at NIMHANS. But this will not be the part of this study.
The yoga will include following asanas under the supervision of a yoga therapist. This will include Griva Shithilikarana, Skandha Sanchalana , Kati Sanchalana, Jaanu Sanchalana, Pada Sanchalana, Tadasana, Kati Sakti Vikasaka, Konasana,Marjari Asana, Vakrasana, Pascimottanasana, Matsyasana, Bhujangasana, Ardha Shalabhasana, Viparitakarani, Pavanamuktasana, Setubhandasana, Shavasana, Kapalabhati, Surya-anuloma pranayama, Chandraanuloma pranayama, Bhastrika, Bhramari Pranayama, Nadanusandhana.
Working memory (Digit Span)
To study the change in working memory in intervention group as measured by digit span test in comparison to treatment as usual. The range of the scale is 0 to 28 points and higher is better memory.
Time frame: Baseline, after six weeks yoga and after four weeks of completion of yoga
Attention and processing speed(Trail A and B)
To study the change in attention and processing speed in intervention group as measured by Trail A and B test in comparison to treatment as usual. The scoring is based on time taken to complete the test. Less the time taken, better the attention and processing speed.
Time frame: Baseline, after six weeks yoga and after four weeks of completion of yoga
Cognitive flexibility
To study the change in cognitive flexibility in intervention group as measured by stroop test test in comparison to treatment as usual. Stroop test also measures time to complete the task and less the time, better the score is.
Time frame: Baseline,after six weeks yoga and after four weeks of completion of yoga
Cognitive inhibition
To study the change in cognitive inhibition in intervention group as measured by stroop test test in comparison to treatment as usual.
Time frame: Baseline,after six weeks yoga and after four weeks of completion of yoga
Sustainability of working memory
To compare the difference in the working memory 4 weeks post adjuvant yoga intervention, as measured by the scores on Digit span test.test in comparison to treatment as usual.The range of the scale is 0 to 28 points and higher is better memory.
Time frame: four weeks of completion of yoga
Sustainability of attention and processing speed
To compare the difference in attention and processing speed 4 weeks post adjuvant yoga intervention, as measured by Trail Making A and B tests. The scoring is based on time taken to complete the task. Less the time taken, more is the attention and processing speed.
Time frame: four weeks of completion of yoga
Sustainability of cognitive flexibility
To compare the difference incognitive flexibility 4 weeks post adjuvant yoga intervention, as measured by Stroop test. Stroop test also measures time to complete the task and less the time, better the cognitive flexibility is.
Time frame: four weeks of completion of yoga
Sustainability of cognitive inhibition
To compare the difference in cognitive inhibition weeks post adjuvant yoga intervention, as measured by the scores on Stroop test.
Time frame: four weeks of completion of yoga
Plan to share: Yes — Individual participant data that underlie the results reported in the article, after deidentification (text, tables, figures, and appendices).
Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap
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