# Adaptation and Pilot Study of Yoga to Reduce Depression in Adolescents

> **NIH NIH R34** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $239,821

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
“Adaptation and pilot study of yoga to reduce depression in adolescents”
 Recent reports have shown an alarming increase in prevalence of depression in adolescents, particularly
girls, as well as increased numbers of untreated depression in adolescents. This is true despite improved
access to health care from 2000 to 2014 across all socioeconomic groups and data supporting more
efficacious treatment of depression in adolescents. Thus, testing alternative approaches to treating depression
in adolescents, including approaches that do not rely on the limited pool of child and adolescent mental health
providers, is an urgent public health priority.
 A meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of yoga for depressive symptoms in adults
reported yoga was significantly better than usual care, relaxation, or aerobic exercise in decreasing depressive
symptoms. We recently conducted a 10-week RCT of adjunctive hatha yoga (vs. a health education control) for
adults with current or recent major depression, on antidepressant treatment, yet continued to have depressive
symptoms (n=122). Between-group differences in depression symptom severity, while not statistically
significant at 10 weeks, were significantly different at the 6-month follow-up period, favoring yoga. Thus, even
in this difficult-to-treat group of adults, hatha yoga had an enduring effect on depressive symptoms.
 There are various plausible mechanisms by which yoga may have an impact on depression, including self-
regulatory mechanisms. Yoga may increase self-compassion and one’s ability to observe one’s thoughts and
feelings as subjective and transient internal experiences rather than objective and permanent reality (i.e.,
meta-cognitive awareness). It may also lead to increased heart rate variability, reflecting an improved ability to
regulate one’s biological and other responses to stress.
 To our knowledge, there have not been any studies that rigorously examined yoga in adolescents with
clinically significant depression symptoms. Given yoga’s promising results in adults, we believe that hatha yoga
may be a useful and safe intervention for depression in adolescents. Using the Participatory Action Research
framework, we propose to adapt yoga for adolescents using step-wise guidelines for adapting manualized
interventions which include conducting separate focus groups with adolescents (n=24) and parents; soliciting
feedback from experts; making iterative revisions of an instructor manual, and conducting pilot open (n=12)
and randomized controlled trials (n=40). We will compare yoga to group CBT, to assess feasibility,
acceptability, safety, and within-group changes on depression symptom severity (primary outcome) and
functional impairment and anxiety (secondary outcomes), as well as changes in potential mechanisms of
action, including self-compassion, meta-cognitive awareness, and heart rate variability. This pilot project will
provide us with procedures, manuals,...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9937653
- **Project number:** 5R34AT009886-03
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Lisa A Uebelacker
- **Activity code:** R34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $239,821
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-06-01 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9937653

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9937653, Adaptation and Pilot Study of Yoga to Reduce Depression in Adolescents (5R34AT009886-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9937653. Licensed CC0.

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