Anxiolytic effects of a yoga program in early breast cancer patients undergoing conventional treatment: A randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Complementary therapies in medicine Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Rao, M. Raghavendra, Raghuram, Nagarathna, Nagendra, H.R, Gopinath, K.S, Srinath, B.S, Diwakar, Ravi B, Patil, Shekar, Bilimagga, S. Ramesh, Rao, Nalini, Varambally, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2009; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Analysis of Variance; Anti-Anxiety Agents - therapeutic use; Anxiety; Anxiety - drug therapy; Anxiety - therapy; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - psychology; Breast Neoplasms - therapy; CAM; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Chemotherapy; Cognitive Therapy; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Humans; Internal Medicine; Medical Education; Middle Aged; Radiation therapy; Relaxation; STAI; Surgery; Yoga; Yoga - psychology; Relaxation; Yoga; Anxiety; CAM; Cancer; STAI
• ISSN: 0965-2299; 1873-6963
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2008.05.005

Summary Objectives This study compares the anxiolytic effects of a yoga program and supportive therapy in breast cancer outpatients undergoing conventional treatment at a cancer centre. Methods Ninety-eight stage II and III breast cancer outpatients were randomly assigned to receive yoga ( n = 45) or brief supportive therapy ( n = 53) prior to their primary treatment i.e., surgery. Only those subjects who received surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and six cycles of chemotherapy were chosen for analysis following intervention (yoga, n = 18, control, n = 20). Intervention consisted of yoga sessions lasting 60 min daily while the control group was imparted supportive therapy during their hospital visits as a part of routine care. Assessments included Speilberger’s State Trait Anxiety Inventory and symptom checklist. Assessments were done at baseline, after surgery, before, during, and after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Results A GLM-repeated measures ANOVA showed overall decrease in both self-reported state anxiety ( p < 0.001) and trait anxiety ( p = 0.005) in yoga group as compared to controls. There was a positive correlation between anxiety states and traits with symptom severity and distress during conventional treatment intervals. Conclusion The results suggest that yoga can be used for managing treatment-related symptoms and anxiety in breast cancer outpatients.