Effect of Integrated Yoga as an Adjuvant to Standard Care for Panic Disorder: A Randomized Control Trial Study.
Vishwa Sree Yadla, Patil Nj, Prabhakar Kamarthy, Mohan Reddy Matti
Cureus January 1, 2024 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.53286
Summary
Integrating yoga with standard treatment significantly enhances mental health outcomes for individuals with panic disorder. In a study involving 64 patients, those practicing yoga experienced a dramatic reduction in anxiety, with Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scores dropping from an average of 49.13 to 13.53 after 12 weeks of sessions. Additionally, quality of life improved across all domains, with effect sizes ranging from 4.11 to 4.57. This holistic intervention not only alleviates anxiety but also fosters overall well-being, offering hope for effective complementary therapies.
Abstract
Individuals wrestling with panic disorder (PD) know all too well its debilitating impact. Sudden, intense fear episodes disrupt lives and erode well-being. Fortunately, integrating complementary therapies like yoga with standard treatment offers a glimmer of hope for improved outcomes. Yoga's unique blend of physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), and meditative practices holds promise for mitigating anxiety and fostering a sense of inner peace, potentially making it a valuable tool in the fight against panic disorder. This study investigated the effect of yoga as an adjuvant to standard care for panic disorder. Sixty-four panic disorder patients of both genders previously diagnosed with panic disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria were randomly assigned to the yoga group (n = 32) and the control group. The yoga group participated in integrated yoga sessions lasting 60 minutes, five days a week, for 12 weeks. Both groups received standard care. Pre- and post-intervention data were collected for HAM-A and WHOQOL-BREF. The yoga group exhibited a significant reduction in HAM-A scores (Pre: 49.13 ± 4.55, Post: 13.53 ± 5.54, p < 0.001) with a substantial effect size of 7.02. Quality of life significantly improved across all domains (physical, psychological, social, and environmental) in the yoga group (p < 0.001), demonstrating effect sizes ranging from 4.11 to 4.57. Control group participants also experienced improvements, though less pronounced. Between-group comparisons revealed significant differences in anxiety reduction (p = 0.042) and quality of life enhancement (p < 0.001), favouring the yoga group. The results suggest that yoga can be a valuable complementary or alternative approach to traditional treatments for anxiety disorders.