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Online yoga to reduce post traumatic stress in women who have experienced stillbirth: a randomized control feasibility trial.

BMC complementary medicine and therapies
January 1, 1970
Jennifer Huberty et al. (7 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a 12-week home-based, online yoga intervention for reducing PTSD, depression, and other mental health symptoms in women after stillbirth.

Results Summary

The study found significant decreases in PTSD and depression, with improvements in self-rated health for both yoga intervention groups. The moderate-dose group showed significant differences in depression scores and grief intensity compared to the control group, though adherence to the prescribed yoga minutes was low.

Population

Women who experienced stillbirth.

Effective Dosage

Low dose (60 min per week), moderate dose (150 min per week), and stretch-and-tone control group.

Duration

12 weeks

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (8)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
12-week home-based, online yoga intervention
decrease
PTSD
women after stillbirth
-
significant decreases
#1
12-week home-based, online yoga intervention
decrease
depression
women after stillbirth
-
significant decreases
#2
12-week home-based, online yoga intervention
increase
self-rated health
women after stillbirth
-
improvements
#3
moderate dose (MD) yoga (150 min per week)
decrease
depression scores
women after stillbirth
-
significant difference
#4
moderate dose (MD) yoga (150 min per week)
decrease
grief intensity
women after stillbirth
-
significant difference
#5
low dose (LD) yoga (60 min per week)
decrease
PTSD
women after stillbirth
43%
non-significant decreases
#6
moderate dose (MD) yoga (150 min per week)
decrease
PTSD
women after stillbirth
56%
non-significant decreases
#7
stretch-and-tone control group (STC)
decrease
PTSD
women after stillbirth
22%
decrease
#8
Abstract

BACKGROUND: About 1 in every 150 pregnancies end in stillbirth. Consequences include symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Yoga has been used to treat PTSD in other populations and may improve health outcomes for stillbirth mothers. The purpose of this study was to determine: (a) feasibility of a 12-week home-based, online yoga intervention with varying doses; (b) acceptability of a "stretch and tone" control group; and (c) preliminary efficacy of the intervention on reducing symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, depression, perinatal grief, self-compassion, emotional regulation, mindfulness, sleep quality, and subjective health. METHODS: Participants (N = 90) were recruited nationally and randomized into one of three groups for yoga or exercise (low dose (LD), 60 min per week; moderate dose (MD), 150 min per week; and stretch-and-tone control group (STC)). Baseline and post-intervention surveys measured main outcomes (listed above). Frequency analyses were used to determine feasibility. Repeated measures ANCOVA were used to determine preliminary efficacy. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine a dose-response relationship between minutes of yoga and each outcome variable. RESULTS: Over half of participants completed the intervention (n = 48/90). Benchmarks (≥70% reported > 75% satisfaction) were met in each group for satisfaction and enjoyment. Participants meeting benchmarks (completing > 90% of prescribed minutes 9/12 weeks) for LD and MD groups were 44% (n = 8/18) and 6% (n = 1/16), respectively. LD and MD groups averaged 44.0 and 77.3 min per week of yoga, respectively. The MD group reported that 150 prescribed minutes per week of yoga was too much. There were significant decreases in PTSD and depression, and improvements in self-rated health at post-intervention for both intervention groups. There was a significant difference in depression scores (p = .036) and grief intensity (p = .009) between the MD and STC groups. PTSD showed non-significant decreases of 43% and 56% at post-intervention in LD and MD groups, respectively (22% decrease in control). CONCLUSIONS: This was the first study to determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an online yoga intervention for women after stillbirth. Future research warrants a randomized controlled trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT02925481. Registered 10-04-16.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
ExerciseFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansStillbirthStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticSurveys and QuestionnairesYoga
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations42
Citations/Year8.4
Relative Citation Ratio4.50
NIH Percentile91.8%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score1.84
Normalized Score0.66
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