Integrating yoga with psychological group-treatment for mixed depression and anxiety in primary healthcare: An explorative pilot study

• Background and purpose: Yoga has shown promise as a treatment for depression and anxiety. The present pilot study investigated the feasibility of an eight-week grouptreatment integrating emotion-focused psychoeducation, compassion-focused therapy, and Virya yoga for depression and anxiety in primary healthcare.Materials and methods: Patients seeking treatment for depression and anxiety in a primary healthcare centre completed either an integrative group-treatment (N = 14) or treatment as usual (TAU, N = 17). Outcome measures were analysed pre- and posttreatment. Correlations in the intervention group were investigated between treatment outcomes and amount of yoga practice between sessions.Results: Large within-group effect sizes on all outcome measures were found at posttreatment. Symptom reduction did not differ between groups (p = 0.155). Improvement in alexithymia correlated significantly (p < 0.05) with amount of yoga practice between sessions.Conclusion: Integrating yoga with a psychological group-treatment is a somewhat feasible approach to treatment for depression and anxiety in primary healthcare.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Virya yoga

Primary healthcare

Compassion-focused therapy

Mixed depression and anxiety

Affect school

Alexithymia

Psychology

psykologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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