No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
The Impact of Yoga Exercises on Athletes’ Anxiety and Sleep Quality in the Coronavirus Pandemic
Sleep disturbances are a major cause of mental and physical health, with traditional treatments often resulting in limited success. This systematic review examines the role of diverse yoga practices in improving sleep quality and alleviating insomnolent thoughts. By blending evidence from studies published between 2010 and 2024, this review evaluates how yoga interventions, like "Hatha, Kundalini, and Restorative Yoga", influence key psychological mechanisms underneath sleep disorders. The findings highlighted that yoga enhances sleep by reducing stress, modulating the autonomic nervous system, and promoting mindfulness. Specific yoga techniques, including pranayama (breathing exercises), asanas (postures), and meditation, are highlighted for their efficacy in addressing sleep onset latency and improving overall sleep duration and quality. The review identifies gaps in the current literature, such as variability in study designs, intervention duration, and participant demographics, which limit the generalizability of findings. Recommendations for integrating yoga into clinical and community settings to combat insomnia are provided, along with suggestions for future research to explore long-term impacts and individualized interventions.
There can be seen a variety of obstacles such as overtraining, competing and training times, stress, academic responsibilities and travel are some of the challenges that are influencing athletes' performance. The study investigates the effect of Yoga Nidra in enhancing self-confidence and reducing anxiety among female athletes. For the study, a pre- and post-test randomized design had been applied. According to the inclusion criteria, 82 female athletes (age 18-23 years) have been selected. In the experimental group, participants had participated in a Yoga Nidra program for 12 weeks where they had to attend 3 session every week. The Yoga Nidra sessions emphasized baring the mind, being aware of oneself, and using positive mental images to bolster self-belief and combat anxiety. On the other hand, no intervention had been offered to the control group participants though, it had been suggested they continue with their normal training regimes. As a result, Yoga Nidra can reduce anxiety in the experimental group significantly and meaningfully opposed to the control group. Yoga Nidra importance is suggested by many anxiety levels explained in the model for the anxiety management techniques.
Introduction
The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of COVID-19 and stay-at-home (SAH) orders on collegiate student-athletes’ training, nutrition, sleep habits, and mental health and to identify disparities between sexes and competitive divisions.
Methods
Collegiate student-athletes ( n = 401; age, 20 ± 2 yr) completed an 84-question anonymous survey regarding demographics, sport/exercise training, nutrition, sleep habits, and mental health. Response frequencies were calculated for each question, and χ ² analyses were used to determine statistical significance (α = 0.05).
Results
Although 80.7% of respondents indicated training for their sport, only 38.7% could fully perform their training programs. More D1 versus D3 athletes reported they could perform their training plan as written (D1: 44.4% [ n = 83] vs D3: 27.3% [ n = 50]; P < 0.01), but there were no differences between sexes. Cardiovascular exercise was the most common mode (87.5%) followed by resistance exercise (78.4%). Although there were no differences for cardiovascular exercise, more males (87.5%) than females (74.8%) indicated resistance training ( P < 0.01). Average number of meals consumed per day remained similar before and during SAH, but females reported consuming less food and perceived increased healthfulness of their diets. Although most athletes did not use nutritional supplements, rates were higher among D3 and females. Respondents reported longer sleep durations but increased sleep disturbances, negative psychological states, and overall concerns during SAH. Maintaining fitness and sport-specific skills (~70.0%) were the most common concerns. In addition, ~60.6% of females and 41.9% of males indicated increased mental health concerns.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that while attempting to be diligent with training during SAH, many student-athletes reported difficulties regarding limited equipment, motivation, and mental health concerns such as heightened anxiety. Many of these difficulties were division- and sex-specific. Discussions between coaches and student-athletes regarding SAH training and mental stressors may aid in determining student-athletes’ readiness to return to sport.
The global coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic and associated lockdown restrictions resulted in the majority of sports competitions around the world being put on hold. This includes the National Basketball Association, the UEFA Champions League, Australian Football League, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and regional competitions. The mitigation strategies in place to control the pandemic have caused disruption to daily schedules, working environments, and lifestyle factors. Athletes rely on regular access to training facilities, practitioners, and coaches to maintain physical and mental health to achieve maximal performance and optimal recovery. Furthermore, participation in sport at any level increases social engagement and promotes better mental health. It is, therefore, critical to understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures have affected the lives of athletes. We surveyed elite and sub-elite athletes (n = 565) across multiple sports. Significant disruptions were reported for all lifestyle factors including social interactions, physical activity, sleep patterns, and mental health. We found a significant increase in total sleep time and sleep latency, as well as a delay in mid-sleep times and a decrease in social jetlag. Training frequency and duration significantly decreased. Importantly, the changes to training and sleep-related factors were associated with mental health outcomes. With spikes in COVID-19 cases rising around the world and governments reinstituting lockdowns (e.g. United Kingdom; Melbourne, Australia; California, USA) these results will inform messaging and strategies to better manage sleep and mental health in a population for whom optimal performance is critical.
Introduction: In this current era of the pandemic, when the Covid-19 pandemic rapidly spread
across the world, the population at a large scale suffered from fear, worry, and certain concern
regarding himself/herself as well as for their families especially adults and children. A significant
level of stress also developed in health care providers. Many people all over the world are suffering
from loneliness, anxiety, and disturbed mental health issues during lockdown, quarantines, and
isolation. Mental health is one of the important factors for overall health. No vaccination or treatment
available for COVID-19 till today. The only approach is the preventive and promotive approach.
Psychological issues also hamper our physical health and level of immunity. Objective: In this
study, an attempt has been made to critically review the role of yoga against the current pandemic.
Data Source and Review Methods: References are searched from various authoritative texts and
worldwide accepted scientific databases concerning the effect of yoga in the different body systems,
immune system as well as on mental health. Result: The psychophysical approach which helps in
reducing the mental issue maintains mental health and reduces stress as well as boosts our immunity
against communicable diseases like COVID-19 is Yoga. Discussion: Yoga is cost-effective, may be
practiced as a self-care treatment against physical and mental health issues, enhance self-efficacy
and self-confidence. Yoga may be effective as a supportive adjunct in some medical conditions.
Conclusion: This review summarizes the effects of yoga interventions against the current pandemic
as well as helps to understand the preventive and health promotive aspect of yoga on various
components of mental and physical health.
Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic has become a major cause of stress and anxiety worldwide. Due to the global lockdown, work, employment, businesses and the economic climate have been severely affected. It has generated stress among people from all sections of society, especially to workers who have been assigned to cater to healthcare service or those constrained to secure daily essential items. It is widely perceived that elderly or those affected by diabetes, hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases are prone to COVID-19. As per an ongoing survey, the initial data shows that the above-mentioned anxiety and stress cause insomnia, and has the considerable potential to weaken the immune system, the sole protection against the virus.
Objective:
This study focuses on the need of Yoga practice at work places and at home during the global lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methodology:
Literature was searched using PubMed and Google Scholar for COVID-19-related stress and anxiety at work and society due to the worldwide lockdown. The predisposing comorbidities, viral mechanism of action and treatment regimen were also searched. Yoga-based intervention studies and online programs were also searched.
Results:
As the lockdown cannot last forever and workplaces will have to be functional soon, there is an increased possibility of recurrent infection. Therefore, Yoga can provide the necessary tool for risk reduction, amelioration of stress and anxiety and strengthening of the immune function. The online platforms provide a good media for Yoga training at work places and homes.
Conclusion:
Due to social distancing norms, the availability of Yoga trainers has become restricted. Yoga practice is actively sought to achieve reduced anxiety and stress so that improved sleep may positively impact immunity. As a consequence, there is a spurt in social media, catering to daily online Yoga sessions which apparently prove useful in providing accessible means to achieve mental as well as physical well-being.
Background: The recent hype in yoga practice is concomitant with the fact that it helps the practitioner to achieve radiant health and serene
mind. The science of yoga has also become a powerful stream of knowledge. It has increased the number of scientific studies on different yogic interventions, but has also been performed to evaluate its effects on brain wave activity, particularly in neural oscillations. Objectives: In this systematic analysis, we reviewed studies investigating the effect of integrated yoga, meditation, and pranayama on brain wave activity that affects overall cognitive functions. Methods: Broad search strategy was practiced using several online databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, Europe PMC, Scopus, and IndMED. Studies were included in integrated yoga, meditation, and pranayama with brain wave activity, and the entire relevant articles were critically analyzed according to the nature of this study. Results: Several studies examined yogic interventions for restoring brain functions, nerve diseases, and cognitive impairment and suggested that integrated
yoga, meditation, and pranayama practices improve verbal skills, reaction time, hand–eye coordination, speed accuracy, and neural activity. Yogic intervention increases overall brain wave (delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma) activity, which increases overall cognitive functions with greater perceived cognition, working memory, attention, better switching ability, focusing ability, positive mind, and perception. It has also been reported that yogic intervention activates dormant areas of brain while downgrading memories not of interest and upgrading useful ones. Conclusions: There is emerging evidence from randomized controlled trials to support yoga practice, which significantly improves brain wave activity resulting in better cognitive functions.
Teaser: Our review found the average R0 for 2019-nCoV to be 3.28, which exceeds WHO estimates of 1.4 to 2.5.
Objective:
Poor and inadequate sleep negatively impact cognitive and physical functioning and may also affect sports performance. The study aim is to examine sleep quality, sleep duration, and daytime sleepiness in collegiate student-athletes across a wide range of sports.
Design:
Questionnaire.
Setting:
University setting.
Participants:
628 athletes across 29 varsity teams at Stanford University.
Measurements:
Athletes completed a questionnaire inquiring about sleep quality via a modified Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), sleep duration, and daytime sleepiness via Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Sleep quality on campus and while traveling for competition was rated on a 10-point scale.
Results:
Collegiate athletes were classified as poor sleepers (PSQI 5.38 ± 2.45), and 42.4% of athletes experience poor sleep quality (reporting PSQI global scores >5). Athletes reported lower sleep quality on campus than when traveling for competition (7.1 vs 7.6, P< .001). Inadequate sleep was demonstrated by 39.1% of athletes that regularly obtain <7 hours of sleep on weekdays. Fifty-one percent of athletes reported high levels of daytime sleepiness with Epworth scores ≥10. Teen student-athletes in the first and second year of college reported the highest mean levels of daytime sleepiness. Greater total sleep time was associated with daytime functioning including lower frequency of difficulty waking up for practice or class (P< .001) and lower frequency of trouble staying awake during daily activities (P< .001).
Conclusions:
Collegiate athletes frequently experience poor sleep quality, regularly obtain insufficient sleep, and commonly exhibit daytime sleepiness.
Background
Information on sleep quality and insomnia symptomatology among elite athletes remains poorly systematised in the sports science and medicine literature. The extent to which performance in elite sport represents a risk for chronic insomnia is unknown. Objectives
The purpose of this systematic review was to profile the objective and experienced characteristics of sleep among elite athletes, and to consider relationships between elite sport and insomnia symptomatology. Methods
Studies relating to sleep involving participants described on a pre-defined continuum of ‘eliteness’ were located through a systematic search of four research databases: SPORTDiscus, PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar, up to April 2016. Once extracted, studies were categorised as (1) those mainly describing sleep structure/patterns, (2) those mainly describing sleep quality and insomnia symptomatology and (3) those exploring associations between aspects of elite sport and sleep outcomes. ResultsThe search returned 1676 records. Following screening against set criteria, a total of 37 studies were identified. The quality of evidence reviewed was generally low. Pooled sleep quality data revealed high levels of sleep complaints in elite athletes. Three risk factors for sleep disturbance were broadly identified: (1) training, (2) travel and (3) competition. Conclusion
While acknowledging the limited number of high-quality evidence reviewed, athletes show a high overall prevalence of insomnia symptoms characterised by longer sleep latencies, greater sleep fragmentation, non-restorative sleep, and excessive daytime fatigue. These symptoms show marked inter-sport differences. Two underlying mechanisms are implicated in the mediation of sport-related insomnia symptoms: pre-sleep cognitive arousal and sleep restriction.
Context:
The aging process is associated with physiological changes that affect sleep. In older adults, undiagnosed and untreated insomnia may cause impaired daily function and reduced quality of life (QoL). Insomnia is also a risk factor for accidents and falls that are the main cause of accidental deaths in older adults and, therefore, is associated with higher morbidity and mortality rates in older populations.
Objectives:
The research team aimed to (1) examine the efficacy of a yoga intervention (YI) for the treatment of insomnia in older adults, (2) determine the ability of yoga to enhance the QoL of older adults, and (3) establish the applicability of yoga practice for older people in a Western cultural setting.
Design:
A waiting-list controlled trial. Settings • The study took place in Jerusalem, Israel, from 2008-2009.
Participants:
Participants were older men and women (age ≥ 60 y) with insomnia.
Intervention:
The YI group participated in 12 wk of classes, held 2 ×/wk, incorporating yoga postures, meditative yoga, and daily home practice of meditative yoga.
Outcome measures:
The study used self-report assessments of sleep quality using the following: (1) sleep quality-the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and daily sleep and practice logs; (2) mood states-the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale long form (DASS-42) and the Profile of Mood States short form (POMS-SF); (3) a health survey (SF-36); and (4) mobile at-home sleep studies.
Results:
Compared with controls, the YI group showed significant improvements in a range of subjective factors, including overall sleep quality; sleep efficiency; sleep latency and duration; self-assessed sleep quality; fatigue; general well-being; depression; anxiety; stress; tension; anger; vitality; and function in physical, emotional, and social roles.
Conclusions:
Yoga was shown to be safe and improved sleep and QoL in a group of older adults with insomnia. Outcomes depended on practice compliance.
Two studies were conducted to further psychometric research on the recently developed Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). In Study 1 the test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the scale were examined with a sample of 40 outpatients having anxiety disorders. The BAI proved highly internally consistent (cronbach's alpha = .94) and acceptably reliable over an average time lapse of 11 days (r = .67). Study 2 was conducted to assess the convergent and discriminant validity of the BAI vis á vis anxiety and depression and in comparison to the widely used trait Anxiety measure from the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Seventy-one outpatients with anxiety disorders completed the revised State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, and daily diary ratings of anxiety and depression in addition to the BAI. The BAI fared better on tests of convergent and discriminant validity than did Trait Anxiety. The correlation between the BAI and Diary Anxiety was significantly higher than that between BAI and Diary Depression, and, compared to Trait Anxiety, the BAI was significantly less confounded with depression as measured by the BDI. Scores for STAI-Y Trait Anxiety were highly confounded with measures of depression, but results for the STAI-Y State scale were more positive.
Background:
Despite an increase in the prevalence of yoga exercise, research focusing on the relationship between yoga exercise and cognition is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an acute yoga exercise session, relative to aerobic exercise, on cognitive performance.
Methods:
A repeated measures design was employed where 30 female college-aged participants (Mean age = 20.07, SD = 1.95) completed 3 counterbalanced testing sessions: a yoga exercise session, an aerobic exercise session, and a baseline assessment. The flanker and n-back tasks were used to measure cognitive performance.
Results:
Results showed that cognitive performance after the yoga exercise bout was significantly superior (ie, shorter reaction times, increased accuracy) as compared with the aerobic and baseline conditions for both inhibition and working memory tasks. The aerobic and baseline performance was not significantly different, contradicting some of the previous findings in the acute aerobic exercise and cognition literature.
Conclusion:
These findings are discussed relative to the need to explore the effects of other nontraditional modes of exercise such as yoga on cognition and the importance of time elapsed between the cessation of the exercise bout and the initiation of cognitive assessments in improving task performance.
Background:
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) causes burden to the sufferer, the healthcare system, and society. Most studies have focused on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) after a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS); however, the overall morbidity prior to an SDB diagnosis has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to identify morbidity prior to a SDB diagnosis to identify patients at risk for having/developing SDB.
Methods:
Using data from the Danish National Patient Registry (1998-2006), we identified all patients nationwide given a diagnosis of OSA (19,438) or OHS (755) in all hospitals and clinics. For each patient, we randomly selected 4 citizens matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status from the Danish Civil Registration System Statistics.
Results:
Patients with OSA or OHS presented with increased morbidity at least 3 years prior to their SDB diagnosis. The most common contacts with the health system (odds ratio [OR]/confidence interval [CI]) for OSA/OHS were due to musculoskeletal system (1.36[1.29-1.42]/1.35[1.05-1.74]); CVD (1.38[1.30-1.46]/1.80[1.38-2.34]); endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (1.62[1.50-1.76]/4.10[2.90-5.78]); diseases of the nervous system (1.62[1.0-1.76]/3.54[2.56-4.88]); respiratory system (1.84[1.73-1.96]/2.83[2.07-3.89]); skin and subcutaneous tissue (1.18[1.07-1.30]/2.12[1.33-3.38]); gastrointestinal (1.17[1.10-1.24]/NS); infections (1.20[1.08-1.33]/NS); genitourinary system (1.21[1.13-1.30]/NS); and ear, nose, and throat (1.44[1.32-1.56]/NS).
Conclusions:
Patients with SDB show significant morbidities several years prior to a diagnosis of OSA or OHS. OSA should be considered in all medical specialties as an important comorbidity. In our study, evidence points to particular emphasis for considering this diagnosis in endocrinology and metabolic specialties.
Objectives:
This study investigated the perceived influence of yoga on body perception and psychosocial aspects of life for patients with chronic neck pain.
Design:
This qualitative study was conducted using semistandardized interviews.
Setting:
The interventions and interviews took place in a referral center's research department.
Subjects:
Eighteen (18) patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain were recruited from a larger randomized controlled trial of yoga for chronic neck pain.
Interventions:
Participants attended 90 minutes of Iyengar yoga once a week for 9 weeks.
Outcome measures:
Participants completed a drawing of their neck and shoulder regions to reflect their subjective body perceptions before and after their yoga program. Semistandardized interviews were used to explore their body perception, emotional status, everyday life and coping skills, as well as any perceived changes in these dimensions postparticipation. An interdisciplinary group analyzed the study data using content analysis techniques.
Results:
Participants reported change on five dimensions of human experience: physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social. Physically, most participants cited renewed body awareness, both during their yoga practice and in their daily lives. Such change was echoed in their postparticipation body drawings. Cognitively, participants reported increased perceived control over their health. Emotionally, they noted greater acceptance of their pain and life burdens. Behaviorally, they described enhanced use of active coping strategies. Finally, socially, they reported renewed participation in an active life.
Conclusions:
Participants linked yoga to change on all dimensions of human experience, attributing reduced pain levels, increased coping ability, better pain acceptance and increased control to it. Body awareness appeared a key mechanism in these changes.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation of joints and associated fatigue, deteriorated range of motion, and impaired psychosocial functioning. Young adults with RA are at a particular risk for compromised health-related quality of life, and there is a need for safe, effective complementary treatment in addition to traditional medical approaches. The aim of the present study was to use face-to-face participant interviews, conducted before and after an Iyengar yoga (IY) program, to examine mechanisms through which yoga may be beneficial to young adults with RA.This pilot study utilized a single-arm design where all participants received the intervention. Classes were taught twice per week (1.5 hours each) for 6 weeks by an IY teacher qualified in therapeutics. Interview themes included participants' baseline expectations about yoga and viewpoints as to how their functioning had been impacted by the IY intervention were examined. Five young adults with RA aged 24-31 years (mean = 28; 80% female) completed the yoga intervention. Participants consistently reported that yoga helped with energy, relaxation and mood and they discussed perceived mechanisms for how yoga impacted well-being. Mechanisms included physical changes such as range of motion and physiological awareness, and psychospiritual developments such as acceptance, coping, self-efficacy and mindfulness. Though the study is limited, participants' responses provide compelling evidence that IY for RA patients is an intervention worthy of further exploration. The mechanisms and outcomes reported by participants support a biopsychosocial model, which proposes that yoga benefits patients through both physiological and psychospiritual changes.
Stress has been implicated in both somatic and mental disorders. The mechanisms by which stress leads to poor health are largely unknown. However, studies in animals suggest that chronic stress causes high basal cortisol and low cortisol response to acute stressors and that such changes may contribute to disease. Previous studies of the Transcendental Mediation® (TM) technique as a possible means of countering effects of stress have reported altered levels of several hormones both during the practice and longitudinally after regular practice of this technique. In this prospective, random assignment study, changes in baseline levels and acute responses to laboratory stressors were examined for four hormones—cortisol, growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone and testosterone—before and after 4 months of either the TM technique or a stress education control condition. At pre- and post-test, blood was withdrawn continuously through an indwelling catheter, and plasma or serum samples were frozen for later analysis by radioimmunoassay. The results showed significantly different changes for the two groups, or trends toward significance, for each hormone over the 4 months. In the TM group, but not in the controls, basal cortisol level and average cortisol across the stress session decreased from pre- to post-test. Cortisol responsiveness to stressors, however, increased in the TM group compared to controls. The baselines and/or stress responsiveness for TSH and GH changed in opposite directions for the groups, as did the testosterone baseline. Overall, the cortisol and testosterone results appear to support previous data suggesting that repeated practice of the TM technique reverses effects of chronic stress significant for health. The observed group difference in the change of GH regulation may derive from the cortisol differences, while the TSH results are not related easily to earlier findings on the effects of chronic stress.
The development of a 21-item self-report inventory for measuring the severity of anxiety in psychiatric populations is described. The initial item pool of 86 items was drawn from three preexisting scales: the Anxiety Checklist, the Physician’s Desk Reference Checklist, and the Situational Anxiety Checklist. A series of analyses was used to reduce the item pool. The resulting Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) is a 21-item scale that showed high internal consistency (α = .92) and test—retest reliability over 1 week, r (81) = .75. The BAI discriminated anxious diagnostic groups (panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, etc.) from nonanxious diagnostic groups (major depression, dysthymic disorder, etc). In addition, the BAI was moderately correlated with the revised Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, r (150) = .51, and was only mildly correlated with the revised Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, r (153) = .25.
This report presents selected estimates of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among U.S. adults and children, using data from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Trends in adult use were assessed by comparing data from the 2007 and 2002 NHIS.
Estimates were derived from the Complementary and Alternative Medicine supplements and Core components of the 2007 and 2002 NHIS. Estimates were generated and comparisons conducted using the SUDAAN statistical package to account for the complex sample design.
In 2007, almost 4 out of 10 adults had used CAM therapy in the past 12 months, with the most commonly used therapies being nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products (17.7%) and deep breathing exercises (12.7%). American Indian or Alaska Native adults (50.3%) and white adults (43.1%) were more likely to use CAM than Asian adults (39.9%) or black adults (25.5%). Results from the 2007 NHIS found that approximately one in nine children (11.8%) used CAM therapy in the past 12 months, with the most commonly used therapies being nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products (3.9%) and chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation (2.8%). Children whose parent used CAM were almost five times as likely (23.9%) to use CAM as children whose parent did not use CAM (5.1%). For both adults and children in 2007, when worry about cost delayed receipt of conventional care, individuals were more likely to use CAM than when the cost of conventional care was not a worry. Between 2002 and 2007 increased use was seen among adults for acupuncture, deep breathing exercises, massage therapy, meditation, naturopathy, and yoga. CAM use for head or chest colds showed a marked decrease from 2002 to 2007 (9.5% to 2.0%).
Mind-body interventions are beneficial in stress-related mental and physical disorders. Current research is finding associations between emotional disorders and vagal tone as indicated by heart rate variability. A neurophysiologic model of yogic breathing proposes to integrate research on yoga with polyvagal theory, vagal stimulation, hyperventilation, and clinical observations. Yogic breathing is a unique method for balancing the autonomic nervous system and influencing psychologic and stress-related disorders. Many studies demonstrate effects of yogic breathing on brain function and physiologic parameters, but the mechanisms have not been clarified. Sudarshan Kriya yoga (SKY), a sequence of specific breathing techniques (ujjayi, bhastrika, and Sudarshan Kriya) can alleviate anxiety, depression, everyday stress, post-traumatic stress, and stress-related medical illnesses. Mechanisms contributing to a state of calm alertness include increased parasympathetic drive, calming of stress response systems, neuroendocrine release of hormones, and thalamic generators. This model has heuristic value, research implications, and clinical applications.
From the end of December 2019, outbreak of a novel viral disease was reported in Wuhan city of China, which caused by a novel coronavirus and was officially named as COVID-19 by World Health Organization (WHO). The outbreak of COVID-19 was unique in its rapidity of transmission, which has become a global health emergency within just a few months in all countries worldwide. This disease will not only raise public health concerns but also cause several psychological distress, including anxiety, fear, depression, stigmatization, avoidance behaviors, irritability, insomnia, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this situation, the maintenance of mental health status of individuals is very important because people in different parts of society may experience additional stressors during the COVID-19 outbreak. Individuals in different parts of a society may experience the psychological symptoms to COVID-19 during the rising phase of the outbreak, including patients of COVID-19, quarantine individuals, health care workers and family members of medical staffs, children, university students, pregnant women, and families. In this regard, there is the strong evidence that the mental health status of these populations is vulnerable to exhibition of the psychological disorders symptoms. © 2020 Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.
The world is currently facing a serious coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). This novel coronavirus is a new virus for which effective drugs and vaccines have not yet been developed. Amateur and professional athletic events around the world have been stopped, and teams and athletes have had to adopt social withdrawal measures, interrupting their training and preparation routines for competitions. Given this alarming scenario, this article aims to alert athletes to the importance of maintaining a conditioning routine during this confinement period.
Disrupted nighttime sleep is one of the pentad of symptoms defining Narcolepsy. REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) largely contributes to night sleep disruption and narcolepsy is the most common cause of secondary RBD. However, RBD linked to narcolepsy (N-RBD) has been insufficiently characterized, leaving unsolved a number of issues. Indeed, it is still debated whether N-RBD is an intrinsic feature of narcolepsy, as indubitable for cataplexy, and therefore strictly linked to the cerebrospinal fluid hypocretin-1 (CSF hcrt-1) deficiency, or an associated feature, with a still unclear pathophysiology. The current review aims at rendering a comprehensive state-of-the-art of N-RBD, highlighting the open and unsettled topics. RBD reportedly affects 30-60% of patients with Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1), but it may be seen also in Narcolepsy type 2 (NT2). When compared to idiopathic/isolated RBD (iRBD), N-RBD has been reported to be characterized by less energetic and quieter episode, which however occur with the same probability in the first and the second part of the night and sometime even subcontinuously. N-RBD patients are generally younger than those with iRBD. N-RBD has been putatively linked to wake-sleep instability due to CSF hcrt-1 deficiency, but this latter by itself cannot explain completely the phenomenon as N-RBD has not been universally linked to low CSF hcrt-1 levels and it may be observed also in NT2. Therefore, other factors may probably play a role and further studies are needed to clarify this issue. In addition, therapeutic options have been poorly investigated.
Yoga has become a popular approach to improve emotional health. The aim of this review was to systematically assess and meta‐analyze the effectiveness and safety of yoga for anxiety. Medline/PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and IndMED were searched through October 2016 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of yoga for individuals with anxiety disorders or elevated levels of anxiety. The primary outcomes were anxiety and remission rates, and secondary outcomes were depression, quality of life, and safety. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool. Eight RCTs with 319 participants (mean age: 30.0–38.5 years) were included. Risk of selection bias was unclear for most RCTs. Meta‐analyses revealed evidence for small short‐term effects of yoga on anxiety compared to no treatment (standardized mean difference [SMD] = −0.43; 95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.74, −0.11; P = .008), and large effects compared to active comparators (SMD = −0.86; 95% CI = −1.56, −0.15; P = .02). Small effects on depression were found compared to no treatment (SMD = −0.35; 95% CI = −0.66, −0.04; P = .03). Effects were robust against potential methodological bias. No effects were found for patients with anxiety disorders diagnosed by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual criteria, only for patients diagnosed by other methods, and for individuals with elevated levels of anxiety without a formal diagnosis. Only three RCTs reported safety‐related data but these indicated that yoga was not associated with increased injuries. In conclusion, yoga might be an effective and safe intervention for individuals with elevated levels of anxiety. There was inconclusive evidence for effects of yoga in anxiety disorders. More high‐quality studies are needed and are warranted given these preliminary findings and plausible mechanisms of action.
Background: Measuring anxiety level in clinical and non-clinical population needs valid and reliable tool. This research examined the validity and reliability of Beck Anxiety Inventory in Iranian normal population as well as clinically anxious patients.Methods: First, a two-session course was run to train research workers. After they were sufficiently prepared, they were dispatched to different regions of the city, Tehran, referring to residential places for men and women volunteer to take part in the research. At the end, 1513 respondents were randomly recruited and tested using Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Of this population, 112 respondents were randomly selected and re-tested in order to measure test-retest reliability with a one-month interval time between first and second tests. Meanwhile, 261 clinically anxious patients (from clinics and mental health centers) were tested. In order to measure validity, 150 patients were interviewed by two parallel clinicians and the anxiety level was rated based on a 10-point scale from 0 (the least) to 10 (the most). The two raters were blind to the BAI scores of the patients. Results: For data reduction and analysis, the SPSS for Windows-edition 14, was conducted. Findings showed that the Persian version of BAI proved a good reliability (r=0.72, p<0.001), a very good validity (r=0.83, p<0.001), and an excellent internal consistency (Alpha=0.92). Conclusions: The results support the applicability of BAI in Iranian population and suggest the use of this inventory for clinical and research aims. Persian version of BAI not only can help clinicians in assessment and diagnosis, but also assist researchers to evaluate anxiety level when needed.
Yoga therapy is a mind-body intervention that can be an important solution in the treatment of anxiety. Yoga therapy alleviates the hyperarousal of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypervigilance of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis that occurs in anxiety. Yoga therapy activates the parasympathetic branch of the nervous system, replacing SNS overdrive, or the flight-or-fight response, with the relaxation response and balancing the nervous system. Yoga therapy increases positive coping skills and builds self-esteem without harmful side effects. The results of this case study have demonstrated the clinical efficacy of yoga therapy in the treatment of anxiety and panic disorder (PD) in an adolescent female. Treatment consisted of 4 wks of individual sessions (60-min session/wk) and 6 wks of group sessions (90-min session/wk) with daily home practice. The results of the case study are significant because growing numbers of youth in the United States are presenting with anxiety and seeking nonpharmacological options.
Objective:
To evaluate the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendation for yoga as an ancillary intervention in rheumatic diseases.
Methods:
Medline/PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library and IndMED were searched through February 2013. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing yoga with control interventions in patients with rheumatic diseases were included. Two authors independently assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Back Review Group risk of bias tool. The quality of evidence and the strength of the recommendation for or against yoga were graded according to the GRADE recommendations.
Results:
Eight RCTs with a total of 559 subjects were included; two RCTs had a low risk of bias. In two RCTs on FM syndrome, there was very low evidence for effects on pain and low evidence for effects on disability. In three RCTs on OA, there was very low evidence for effects on pain and disability. Based on two RCTs, very low evidence was found for effects on pain in RA. No evidence for effects on pain was found in one RCT on CTS. No RCT explicitly reported safety data.
Conclusion:
Based on the results of this review, only weak recommendations can be made for the ancillary use of yoga in the management of FM syndrome, OA and RA at this point.
This paper focuses on application of neuroscience techniques to exercise psychology for the purpose of obtaining better answers to questions about the effects of acute exercise on mood and other affective experiences. We do this through the lens of the popular idea that exercise can cause an endorphin-based high. Endogenous opioids and their interaction with other neurotransmitter systems are discussed, followed by a succinct historical account of the effects of acute exercise on endorphins and mood. Limitations of the approaches that have been taken are identified. A key message is that optimal progress toward truly understanding the psychological consequences of exercise will require that neuroscience techniques be combined with the strongest possible research designs.
The authors investigated the psychometric properties of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) in a sample of 75 older generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) patients and a comparison group of 32 older adults without significant psychopathology. Internal consistency was above .80, and the BAI showed evidence of convergent validity in both groups. Evidence for discriminant validity with respect to measures of depression was weaker. Two items, fearing the worst and nervousness, correctly distinguished 86.5% of patients with GAD and 93.8% of the normal controls. Medical comorbidity was associated with somatic but not cognitive anxiety symptoms in the normal older sample. Overall, results indicate the limitations of the BAI in assessing anxiety symptoms in older adults and suggest the need for use of an instrument focusing on cognitive aspects of anxiety.
The efficacy, tolerability, and safety of LY2216684, a highly selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, were studied in adult patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). This randomized, double-blind study compared flexible-dose LY2216684 6-18 mg once daily (N = 250) with placebo (N = 245) for 10 weeks acute therapy followed by 1 year LY2216684 treatment (results not reported here). Primary inclusion criteria consisted of GRID 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression total score ≥18 and Clinical Global Impressions-Severity score ≥4. The primary efficacy measure was the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score. Response was defined as a ≥50% reduction in MADRS score and remission as MADRS total score ≤10. Global functioning was assessed using the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). LY2216684-treated patients showed significant improvement from baseline on the MADRS total score compared with placebo-treated patients (-13.3 vs. -9.8, p < .001), and they had a significantly higher probability of achieving response (49.5%) and remission (29.7%) compared with placebo-treated patients (29.3% and 18.8%, respectively). For the SDS global functional impairment score, LY2216684 treatment resulted in significantly greater improvement compared with placebo treatment (p < .001). More LY2216684-treated than placebo-treated patients discontinued from the study because of an adverse event or death (9.6% vs. 1.6%, p ≤ .001). LY2216684 was associated with significant increases (p < .01) from baseline in systolic (3 mm Hg) and diastolic (4 mm Hg) blood pressure and pulse (10 bpm) compared with placebo. LY2216684 6-18 mg demonstrated significant efficacy and was tolerated in the treatment of MDD.
Yoga and exercise have beneficial effects on mood and anxiety. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic activity is reduced in mood and anxiety disorders. The practice of yoga postures is associated with increased brain GABA levels. This study addresses the question of whether changes in mood, anxiety, and GABA levels are specific to yoga or related to physical activity.
Healthy subjects with no significant medical/psychiatric disorders were randomized to yoga or a metabolically matched walking intervention for 60 minutes 3 times a week for 12 weeks. Mood and anxiety scales were taken at weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, and before each magnetic resonance spectroscopy scan. Scan 1 was at baseline. Scan 2, obtained after the 12-week intervention, was followed by a 60-minute yoga or walking intervention, which was immediately followed by Scan 3.
The yoga subjects (n = 19) reported greater improvement in mood and greater decreases in anxiety than the walking group (n = 15). There were positive correlations between improved mood and decreased anxiety and thalamic GABA levels. The yoga group had positive correlations between changes in mood scales and changes in GABA levels.
The 12-week yoga intervention was associated with greater improvements in mood and anxiety than a metabolically matched walking exercise. This is the first study to demonstrate that increased thalamic GABA levels are associated with improved mood and decreased anxiety. It is also the first time that a behavioral intervention (i.e., yoga postures) has been associated with a positive correlation between acute increases in thalamic GABA levels and improvements in mood and anxiety scales. Given that pharmacologic agents that increase the activity of the GABA system are prescribed to improve mood and decrease anxiety, the reported correlations are in the expected direction. The possible role of GABA in mediating the beneficial effects of yoga on mood and anxiety warrants further study.
Sleep problems become more common with age, affect quality of life for individuals and their families, and can increase healthcare costs. Older people are often prescribed a range of drugs for their health problems, many of which have side effects. Side effects are just one reason why there is an argument to be made for clinical use of non-pharmacological treatments. This review considers the effectiveness of three interventions, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), bright light, and physical exercise. It considers sleep quality, duration and efficiency as primary outcome measures. Randomised controlled trials were selected where 80% or more of participants were over 60 and had a diagnosis of primary insomnia and where investigators had taken care to screen participants for dementia and/or depression. The data suggest a mild effect of CBT for sleep problems in older adults, best demonstrated for sleep maintenance insomnia. It may be that the provisions of 'top-up' or 'refresher' sessions of CBT training to improve durability of effect are worthy of investigation. Evidence of the efficacy of bright light and exercise were so limited that no conclusions about them can be reached as yet; however, in view of the promising results of bright light therapy in other populations with problems of sleep timing, further research into its effectiveness with older adults would seem justifiable. Exercise, though not appropriate for all in this population, may enhance sleep. Research involving exercise programmes designed with the elderly in mind is needed.
Historically, perhaps no daytime behavior has been more closely associated with better sleep than exercise. The assumption that exercise promotes sleep has also been central to various hypotheses about the functions of sleep. Hypotheses that sleep serves an energy conservation function, a body tissue restitution function, or a temperature down-regulation function all have predicted a uniquely potent effect of exercise on sleep because no other stimulus elicits greater depletion of energy stores, tissue breakdown, or elevation of body temperature, respectively. Exercise offers a potentially attractive alternative or adjuvant treatment for insomnia. Sleeping pills have a number of adverse side effects and are not recommended for long-term use, partly on the basis of a significant epidemiologic association of chronic hypnotic use with mortality. Other behavioral/cognitive treatments are more effective for chronic insomnia treatment, but difficult and costly to deliver. By contrast, exercise could be a healthy, safe, inexpensive, and simple means of improving sleep.
To determine if a tailored yoga program could improve age-related changes in hip extension, stride length, and associated indices of gait function in healthy elders, changes that have been linked to increased risk for falls, dependency, and mortality in geriatric populations.
Single group pre-post test exploratory study. A 3-dimensional quantitative gait evaluation, including kinematic and kinetic measurements, was performed pre- and postintervention. Changes over time (baseline to postintervention) in primary and secondary outcome variables were assessed using repeated-measures analysis of variance.
Yoga exercises were performed in an academic medical center (group classes) and in the subjects' homes (yoga home-practice assignments). Pre- and postassessments were performed in a gait laboratory.
Twenty-three healthy adults (age range, 62-83 y) who were naive to yoga were recruited; 19 participants completed the program.
An 8-week Iyengar Hatha yoga program specifically tailored to elderly persons and designed to improve lower-body strength and flexibility. Participants attended two 90-minute yoga classes per week, and were asked to complete at least 20 minutes of directed home practice on alternate days.
Peak hip extension, average anterior pelvic tilt, and stride length at comfortable walking speed.
Peak hip extension and stride length significantly increased (F1,18=15.44, P<.001; F1,18=5.57, P=.03, respectively). We also observed a trend toward reduced average pelvic tilt (F1,18=4.10, P=.06); adjusting for the modifying influence of frequency of home yoga practice strengthened the significance of this association (adjusted F1,17=14.30, P=.001). Both the frequency and duration of yoga home practice showed a strong, linear, dose-response relationship to changes in hip extension and average pelvic tilt.
Findings of this exploratory study suggest that yoga practice may improve hip extension, increase stride length, and decrease anterior pelvic tilt in healthy elders, and that yoga programs tailored to elderly adults may offer a cost-effective means of preventing or reducing age-related changes in these indices of gait function.
The aim of this study was principally to assess the impact of sleep deprivation on interference performance in short Stroop tasks (Color-Word, Emotional, and Specific) and on subjective anxiety. Subjective sleepiness and performance on a psychomotor sustained attention task were also investigated to validate our protocol of sleep deprivation. Twelve healthy young subjects were tested at four-hourly intervals through a 36-h period of wakefulness under a constant routine protocol. Analyses of variance for repeated measurements revealed that self-assessment of sleepiness on a visual analogue scale as well as mean reaction time performance on the sustained attention task, both for the first minute and for 10 min of testing, were worsened by sleep deprivation. Analyses revealed an increase in self-reported anxiety scores on the STAI questionnaire but did not reveal any significant effect after sleep deprivation either on indexes of interference or on accuracy in Stroop tasks. However, analyses showed sensitivity to circadian effect on verbal reaction times in the threat-related (Emotional) and sleep-related (Specific) Stroop tasks. We concluded that 36 h of prolonged wakefulness affect self-reported anxiety and Emotional Stroop task resulting in a cognitive slowing. Moreover, total sleep deprivation does not affect interference control in any of the three short Stroop tasks.
The aim of this study was to compare changes in brain gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) levels associated with an acute yoga session versus a reading session. It was hypothesized that an individual yoga session would be associated with an increase in brain GABA levels.
This is a parallel-groups design.
Screenings, scan acquisitions, and interventions took place at medical school-affiliated centers.
The sample comprised 8 yoga practitioners and 11 comparison subjects.
Yoga practitioners completed a 60-minute yoga session and comparison subjects completed a 60-minute reading session.
GABA-to-creatine ratios were measured in a 2-cm axial slab using magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging immediately prior to and immediately after interventions.
There was a 27% increase in GABA levels in the yoga practitioner group after the yoga session (0.20 mmol/kg) but no change in the comparison subject group after the reading session ( -0.001 mmol/kg) (t = -2.99, df = 7.87, p = 0.018).
These findings demonstrate that in experienced yoga practitioners, brain GABA levels increase after a session of yoga. This suggests that the practice of yoga should be explored as a treatment for disorders with low GABA levels such as depression and anxiety disorders. Future studies should compare yoga to other forms of exercise to help determine whether yoga or exercise alone can alter GABA levels.
Laboratory testing of human suspected cases of novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection: interim guidance
World Health Organization (WHO). Laboratory testing of
human suspected cases of novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection: interim guidance, 10 January 2020. Genava: World
Health Organization; 2020. [Link]
Joint statement by the IOC, IPC, Tokyo 2020, Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Government of Japan
- International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee. Joint statement by the
IOC, IPC, Tokyo 2020, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
and the Government of Japan. 2021 [Updated 2021
Optimising the effects of physical activity on mental health and wellbeing: A joint consensus statement from sports medicine Australia and the Australian Psychological Society
- S A Vella
- E Aidman
- M Teychenne
- J J Smith
- C Swann
- S Rosenbaum
Vella SA, Aidman E, Teychenne M, Smith JJ, Swann C,
Rosenbaum S, et al. Optimising the effects of physical activity on mental health and wellbeing: A joint consensus
statement from sports medicine Australia and the Australian Psychological Society. Journal of Science and Medicine
in Sport. 2023; 26(2):132-9. [DOI:10.1016/j.jsams.2023.06.003]
[PMID]
Anxiogenic effect of sleep deprivation in the elevated plus-maze test in mice. Psychopharmacology
- R H Silva
- S R Kameda
- R C Carvalho
- A L Takatsu-Coleman
- S T Niigaki
- V C Abílio
Silva RH, Kameda SR, Carvalho RC, Takatsu-Coleman AL,
Niigaki ST, Abílio VC, et al. Anxiogenic effect of sleep deprivation in the elevated plus-maze test in mice. Psychopharmacology. 2004; 176(2):115-22. [DOI:10.1007/s00213-004-1808-7] [PMID]
Sleep and anxiety disorders
- L Staner
Staner L. Sleep and anxiety disorders. Dialogues in
Clinical Neuroscience. 2003; 5(3):249-58. [DOI:10.31887/
DCNS.2003.5.3/lstaner] [PMID] [PMCID]
Anaerobic training and its effects on sleep quality, state, and trait anxiety in collegiate athletes. Sport Sciences for Health
- K Ali
- A Aseem
- M E Hussain
Ali K, Aseem A, Hussain ME. Anaerobic training and
its effects on sleep quality, state, and trait anxiety in collegiate athletes. Sport Sciences for Health. 2019; 15:453-61.
[DOI:10.1007/s11332-019-00561-9]
Anxiety and motivation to return to sport during the French COVID-19 Lockdown
- A Ruffault
- M Bernier
- J Fournier
- N Hauw
Ruffault A, Bernier M, Fournier J, Hauw N. Anxiety and
motivation to return to sport during the French COVID-19
Lockdown. Frontiers in Psychology. 2020; 11:610882.
[DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.610882] [PMID] [PMCID]
Advanced yoga. A. Movahedi Naeni, R. Ramez Persian trance
- P D Sharma
Sharma PD. Advanced yoga. A. Movahedi Naeni, R. Ramez
Persian trance]. Tehran: Saless; 2008. [Link]
The effect of home-based exercise on anxiety and mental well-being levels of teachers and preservice teachers in COVID-19 pandemic
- F Çifçi
- A Demir
Çifçi F, Demir A. The effect of home-based exercise on
anxiety and mental well-being levels of teachers and preservice teachers in COVID-19 pandemic. African Educational Research Journal. 2020; 8(2):S20-8. [DOI:10.30918/
AERJ.8S2.20.029]
The relationship between the severity of insomnia, sleepiness and mental health disorders with academic performance in girls (Persian)
- A R Heidari
- P Ehteshamzadeh
- M Marashi
Heidari AR, Ehteshamzadeh P, Marashi M. [The relationship between the severity of insomnia, sleepiness and mental health disorders with academic performance in girls
(Persian)]. Journal of Woman Cultural Psychology. 2018;
1(4):65-76. [Link]