Meta-analysis of a mindfulness yoga exercise intervention on depression - based on intervention studies in China.
Frontiers in psychology January 1, 2023 Yuehang Yang, Dawei Cao, Teng Lyu et al. 15 citations
A meta-analysis of 22 randomized controlled trials involving 2,216 patients found that mindfulness yoga exercise significantly reduces depressive symptoms, with a large combined effect size. The analysis included 1,101 patients in yoga intervention groups and 1,115 in control groups. Results showed substantial heterogeneity across studies, but the overall effect indicates yoga is effective for preventing and treating depression and improving mental health. Mindfulness yoga may serve as a non-medical, low-cost adjunct to pharmacological treatment for depression.