In 2015, A study has highlighted the potential benefits of yoga for pregnant women experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety. The randomized controlled trial, conducted by a team of researchers led by Kyle Davis, Sherryl H. Goodman, Jenn Leiferman, Mary Taylor, and Sona Dimidjian, explored the effectiveness of an 8-week yoga intervention compared to treatment-as-usual (TAU).

The study involved 46 pregnant women who were randomly assigned to either a prenatal yoga program or TAU. The primary aim was to assess the feasibility of the yoga intervention and its impact on mental health outcomes. The results were promising, with participants reporting high levels of credibility and satisfaction with yoga as a therapeutic approach.

Both groups saw significant improvements in symptoms of depression and anxiety over the course of the study. However, the yoga group demonstrated a notably greater reduction in negative affect compared to the TAU group, with a statistically significant effect (β = -0.53, SE = 0.20, p = .011).

The researchers concluded that prenatal yoga is a feasible and acceptable intervention for pregnant women suffering from depression and anxiety. While the intervention showed promise in reducing negative affect more effectively than standard treatment, further research is needed to fully understand its potential benefits and to explore its long-term impact on maternal mental health.

This study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of nonpharmacological treatments, such as yoga, for managing mental health conditions during pregnancy, a period when many women prefer to avoid medication.

Reference: Davis, K., Goodman, S. H., Leiferman, J., Taylor, M., & Dimidjian, S. (2015). A randomized controlled trial of yoga for pregnant women with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 21(3), 166-172.