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The effectiveness of body-oriented methods of therapy in the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Results of a controlled pilot study
Abstract
Randomized controlled studies on the effectiveness of body-oriented methods of treatment for children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are lacking. Our aim was to compare the effectiveness of two methods of treatment (yoga for children vs. conventional motor exercises) in a randomized controlled pilot study.
Nineteen children with a clinical diagnosis of ADHD (according to ICD-10 criteria) were included and randomly assigned to treatment conditions according to a 2x2 cross-over design. Effects of treatment were analyzed by means of an analysis of variance for repeated measurements.
For all outcome measures (test scores on an attention task, and parent ratings of ADHD symptoms) the yoga training was superior to the conventional motor training, with effect sizes in the medium-to-high range (0.60-0.97). All children showed sizable reductions in symptoms over time, and at the end of the study, the group means for the ADHD scales did not differ significantly from those for a representative control group. Furthermore, the training was particularly effective for children undergoing pharmacotherapy (MPH).
The findings from this pilot study demonstrate that yoga can be an effective complementary or concomitant treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The study advocates further research into the impact of yoga or body-oriented therapies on the prevention and treatment of ADHD.
... The studies on meditation for ADHD treatment are fewer in number, so far carried out in US, Germany, Thailand and Australia, have small sample sizes (n = 30±10) and have high risk of bias due to inadequate allocation concealment (e.g. systematic review on meditation-based interventions for children with ADHD by Evans, Ling, Hill, Reinhart, Austin, & Sciberras, 2018; randomized controlled trials by Haffner, Roos, Goldstein, Parzer, & Resch, 2006;Jensen & Kenny, 2004; and, before-after design by Zylowska et al., 2008). ...
... In line with existing literature, this customized intervention also supported a multicomponent framework including respiratory, postural, relaxation concentration training (e.g. Haffner et al., 2006;Jensen & Kenny, 2004). ...
... Meditation was thus overall effective for the grandparent-ADHD-diagnosed grandchild dyads corroborating existing evidence (e.g. Evans et al. 2018;Haffner et al. 2006;Jensen & Kenny, 2004;Zylowska et al., 2008), with some insightful variations in intervention response. Participants from Mumbai and Hindus evidenced greater self-control and empowerment in comparison to those form Pretoria and Christians. ...
Children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorders (ADHD) and raised by grandparents as primary caregivers need research and practice considerations. The aim of this study was to examine whether a joint meditation intervention would improve self-control in ADHD-diagnosed children and also whether it would empower the primary caregiver grandparents. A waitlist-control design study was undertaken to examine the unidirectional and actor-partner effects of the joint meditation intervention. Intervention (pretest N = 55; posttest = 46) and control groups (pretest = 55; posttest = 38) comprised grandchild-grandparent dyads from Mumbai and Pretoria, assessed on self-control and family empowerment measures respectively pre- and post-test. Intervention group dyads exhibited greater self-control and empowerment post-test (Cohen’s d range = 2.30–3.84, p = .001). Participants from Mumbai, grandmother-grandchild dyads, middle class, Hindus, who regularly attended the meditation lessons and practiced at home, demonstrated higher self-control and empowerment. Meditation lessons attended and home practice mediated the relationship between demographic predictors and outcomes. Actor-partner estimates in the pooled regression analyses indicated an association between grandparents’ and grandchildren’s meditation lessons attendance and home practice, as well as interdependent outcomes. The meditation intervention is effective, however, would need to be refined for cultural relevance and some additional exercises on bonding and caregiving for upper class participants and grandfathers.
... Half of the participants completed the yoga intervention for the first eight weeks of the intervention phase, took a six week break from intervention, and then engaged in the typical exercise program for the next eight weeks of the intervention phase; the other half of the participants completed the interventions in the opposite order. Finally, six more weeks of data were collected on each of the participants, during which time they were not engaged in either of the interventions (Haffner et al., 2006). ...
... This suggests that the yoga intervention was superior in improving behavior when compared to the typical exercise program. Additionally, by the end of the study FBB-HKS scores for the participants showed non-significant differences when compared to individuals who were not diagnosed with ADHD, suggesting that the intervention improved the ADHD related behaviors of the participants (Haffner et al., 2006). ...
... Additionally, the results found here align with the positive results found in studies that have examined yoga interventions delivered outside of school settings that aimed to improve ADHD related variables. These studies have demonstrated improvement in ADHD symptoms such as inattentiveness and hyperactivity as shown through parent reports on rating scales such as the ADHD-RS (Hariprasad et al., 2013), the Conners (Harrison et al., 2004; Jensen & Kenny, 2004), the CSI-4 (Abadi et al., 2008), and the FBB-HKS (Haffner et al., 2006). The results found here can be best understood when examined in accordance with prior works of research that have attempted to explain why yoga can be beneficial in improving attention related outcomes. ...
ADHD impacts approximately 5% of children and has substantial negative effects on school behaviors, particularly with regard to attention. A number of school-based interventions exist to address the attention and focusing abilities of individuals diagnosed with ADHD; however, all of the existing interventions feature drawbacks such as expense, inefficient uses of time and resources, or negative side effects. Yoga has been shown to be a viable alternative to the traditional treatment methods for ADHD, particularly with regard to improving the attention and concentration levels of students. The present study utilized the Yoga Fitness for Kids videotape as an intervention for four, second grade boys who were diagnosed with ADHD and on a regular medication regimen for the disorder. The researchers used direct observation methods to examine whether the intervention would effectively increase the percentage of intervals on-task for the students. The results of the study showed that the percentage of intervals on-task was improved from the baseline to intervention phase for three of the four participants, while one participant demonstrated non-significant improvements in behavior. The Tau-U statistic was calculated to measure the effect size of the intervention for each participant, and scores ranged from 0.60 to 1.00. The weighted average Tau-U score across participants was 0.79. These results suggest that yoga can be utilized as a school-based intervention to improve the levels of on-task behaviors of students diagnosed with ADHD.
... Four studies without control/comparison groups on the effects of yoga on children with ADHD have been published [24][25][26][27]. In addition, the results of two randomized controlled trials are available in the literature [23,28]. ...
... Two randomized controlled trials have investigated the effects of yoga on ADHD in children [23,28]. In a small exploratory study, Jensen and Kenny [23] assessed the effects of yoga on the attention and behavior of boys with ADHD whose symptoms were stable on medication. ...
... The aim of another study [28] was to compare the effectiveness of Hatha yoga in children versus conventional motor exercises (wellknown active games) over 34 weeks in a randomized controlled pilot study. Nineteen children aged 8 to 11 years (12 boys and 7 girls) with a clinical diagnosis of ADHD according to ICD-10 criteria (including children with attention disorders, hyperkinetic disorder of social behavior, and not otherwise specified hyperkinetic disorder) were included and randomly assigned to treatment conditions according to a 2x2 cross-over design. ...
... There were major differences in the description of how the selection of ADHD participants was made. Only eight studies reported detailed information on ADHD subtype, medication status, and comorbidities (Banaschewski, Besmens, Zieger, & Rothenberger, 2001;Chang, Liu, Yu, & Lee, 2012;Choi, Han, Kang, Jung, & Renshaw, 2014;Haffner, Roos, Goldstein, Parzer, & Resch, 2006;Medina et al., 2010;Pan, Chang, Tsai, Chu, Cheng, & Sung, 2014;Verret, Guay, Berthiaume, Gardiner, & Béliveau, 2012;Wigal et al., 2003). Some studies restricted inclusion/exclusion criteria to a specific subtype of ADHD (Banaschewski et al., 2001;Kang, Choi, Kang, & Han, 2011;Verret et al., 2012;Wigal et al., 2003). ...
... Fourteen studies included a control group in their study design, which received either no intervention (Ahmed & Mohamed, 2011;Chang, Hung, Huang, Hatfield, & Hung, 2014;McKune, Pautz, & Lombard, 2003;Pan et al., 2014;Verret et al., 2012;Zivkovic, Zivanovic, Zivkovic, Milojkovic, & Djordjevic, 2012) or a non-exercise treatment (Chang et al., 2012;Choi et al., 2014;Jensen & Kenny, 2004;Kang et al., 2011), or comprised age-and gendermatched controls without developmental or behavioral problems undergoing the same exercise program (Pontifex et al., 2013;Tantillo, Kesick, Hynd, & Dishman, 2002;Wigal et al., 2003). Two studies used a within-subject crossover design to compare the effects of two different interventions in the same sample (Banaschewski et al., 2001;Haffner et al., 2006). The long-term intervention programs consisted of 10 (Hernandez- Reif, Field, & Thimas, 2001) to 36 sessions (Zivkovic et al., 2012). ...
... The effect sizes were comparable with or even larger than those attained by longer intervention programs also using Conners' rating scales for evaluating ADHD symptom reduction (Ahmed & Mohamed, 2011;Banaschewski et al., 2001;Jensen & Kenny, 2004;Lufi & Parish-Plass, 2011). Haffner et al. (2006) and Jensen and Kenny (2004) evaluated the efficacy of Yoga training in children with ADHD. The results of these studies were inconsistent with respect to the effects on attention. ...
Exercise has attracted attention as a potential helpful intervention in children with ADHD. Effects are emphasized on cognition, social-emotional, and motor development.
A systematic literature search was conducted using the electronic databases Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and ERIC to analyze the efficacy of different types of exercise interventions in children and adolescents with ADHD. Seven studies examining the acute and 14 studies examining the long-term effects were included.
The largest effects were reported for mixed exercise programs on ADHD symptomatology and fine motor precision. However, because of the large differences in the study designs, the comparability is limited.
At that time, no evidence-based recommendation can be formulated regarding frequency, intensity, or duration of exercise. Nevertheless, some first trends regarding the effects of certain types of exercise can be identified. When focusing on long-term health benefits in children and adolescents with ADHD, qualitative exercise characteristics might play an important role.
© 2015 SAGE Publications.
... All three categories of PE studies resulted in significant improvements on unblinded parent and teacher ratings of ADHD symptom severity in children and adolescents with ADHD (Ahmed & Mohamed, 2011;Banaschewski et al., 2001;Choi, Han, Kang, Jung, & Renshaw, 2015;Haffner, Roos, Goldstein, Parzer, & Resch, 2006;Hernandez-Reif et al., 2001;Hoza et al., 2014;Kang et al., 2011;Lufi & Parish-Plass, 2011;McKune et al., 2004), with small to large effects (d = .26-2.39). Most PE studies reported medium to large effect sizes on objec-tive cognitive measures aspects of EF (d = .37-1.37), including attention and inhibition, in children and adolescents with ADHD (Chang et al., 2014;Choi et al., 2014;Haffner et al., 2006;Kang, Choi, Kang, & Han, 2011;Park et al., 2013;Verret et al., 2012), although two studies failed to detect effects of yoga on attention (Jensen & Kenny, 2004) and sensorimotor training on impulse control (Banaschewski et al., 2004). ...
... All three categories of PE studies resulted in significant improvements on unblinded parent and teacher ratings of ADHD symptom severity in children and adolescents with ADHD (Ahmed & Mohamed, 2011;Banaschewski et al., 2001;Choi, Han, Kang, Jung, & Renshaw, 2015;Haffner, Roos, Goldstein, Parzer, & Resch, 2006;Hernandez-Reif et al., 2001;Hoza et al., 2014;Kang et al., 2011;Lufi & Parish-Plass, 2011;McKune et al., 2004), with small to large effects (d = .26-2.39). Most PE studies reported medium to large effect sizes on objec-tive cognitive measures aspects of EF (d = .37-1.37), including attention and inhibition, in children and adolescents with ADHD (Chang et al., 2014;Choi et al., 2014;Haffner et al., 2006;Kang, Choi, Kang, & Han, 2011;Park et al., 2013;Verret et al., 2012), although two studies failed to detect effects of yoga on attention (Jensen & Kenny, 2004) and sensorimotor training on impulse control (Banaschewski et al., 2004). Lastly, results indicated that PE interventions for children and adolescents with ADHD can improve motor skill development and physical fitness, as evidenced by PE having moderate to large effects (d = .31-2.82) on measures of motor performance (Ahmed & Mohamed, 2011;Banaschewski et al., 2001;Chang et al., 2014;McKune et al., 2004;Pan et al., 2015;Verret et al., 2012). ...
We explored existing research to inform the prospect of using physical exercise interventions for emerging adults (ages 18-25) with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We synthesized (a) possible mechanisms of change for physical exercise as an intervention for ADHD, (b) existing physical exercise research with children and adolescents with ADHD, and (c) physical exercise interventions for adults with depression to inform developmental implications and recommendations. Physical exercise research in child and adolescent samples provide preliminary support of physical exercise on ADHD symptomatology and common areas of impairment. However, variability in research methods (e.g., exercise modalities, outcome measures) precludes us from comparing physical exercise interventions to each other (e.g., aerobic exercise versus resistance training) and prevailing pharmacological and psychosocial treatments. In reviewing the more substantive physical exercise research of adults with depression, mild-to-moderate intensity aerobic physical exercise and high-intensity interval aerobic physical exercise are most likely to yield the greatest improvements in affect, resulting in improved long-term engagement for emerging adults. We discuss that, despite the limited research documenting the effectiveness of physical exercise for ADHD in emerging adulthood, there are numerous reasons for mental health providers to recommend it as an adjunct to psychosocial and pharmacological treatments. We reviewed several promising prospects for research into physical exercise interventions for emerging adults with ADHD. Limitations of existing research and avenues for future investigation are discussed.
... In the study byNaveen et al. (1997), yoga breathing techniques resulted in increased spatial memory in children (10–17 years). Moreover, several studies have shown positive effects of yoga in children with attentional deficits or ADHD (e.g.,Harrison et al., 2004;Haffner et al., 2006). However, there is also contradictory evidence.Peck et al. (2005)found no positive effect on ADHDsymptoms in a 3 weeks program with children doing yoga to a 30min videotape twice a week. ...
... In sum, large parts of research in the field of yoga focuses on specific adult samples like patients (e.g.,Yadav et al., 2012) or occupational groups (e.g.,Rocha et al., 2012). With respect to children, mainly older age groups (e.g.,Naveen et al., 1997;Mandanmohan et al., 2003) and children with a medical diagnosis (e.g.,Platania-Solazzo et al., 1992;Haffner et al., 2006) or which are socioeconomically disadvantaged (e.g.,Chaya et al., 2012) have been studied. The picture is even more complex due to the fact that some studies did not use control groups (e.g.,Moore et al., 2011;Sethi et al., 2013) or performed statistical comparisons within yoga-and control groups, separately (e.g.,Telles et al., 1993Telles et al., , 1994). ...
The present pilot study investigated the effects of yoga training, as compared to physical skill training, on motor and executive function, physical self-concept, and anxiety-related behavior in junior primary school-aged children. Twenty-four participants with a mean age of 8.4 (±1.4) years completed either yoga or physical skill training twice a week for 6 weeks outside of regular school class time. Both forms of training were delivered in an individualized and child-oriented manner. The type of training did not result in any significant differences in movement and executive function outcomes. In terms of physical self-concept, significant group differences were revealed only for perceived movement speed such that yoga training resulted in perceptions of being slower while physical skill training resulted in perceptions of moving faster. Analysis of anxiety related outcomes revealed significant group effects only for avoidance behavior and coping strategies. Avoidance behavior increased following yoga training, but decreased following physical skill training. In addition, following yoga training, children showed an increased use of divergent coping strategies when facing problematic situations while after physical skill training children demonstrated a decrease in use of divergent coping strategies. Changes in overall physical self-concept scores were not significantly correlated with changes in avoidance behavior following yoga training. In contrast, following physical skill training increased physical self-concept was significantly correlated with decreases in avoidance behavior. In sum, exposure to yoga or physical skill training appears to result in distinct effects for specific domains of physical self-concept and anxiety-related behavior. Further studies with larger samples and more rigorous methodologies are required to further investigate the effects reported here. With respect to future studies, we address potential research questions and specific features associated with the investigation of the effects of yoga in a sample of school-aged children.
... In a 12-week yoga class intervention with a 30-min twice weekly program children with ADHD displayed reduced inattentive behavior and ADHD symptoms, indicating that yoga classes improved attention, visual-motor accuracy, and behavior in children with ADHD [22]. Previous studies have also demonstrated that a similar yoga intervention (60 min twice/wk) over an 8-week period signi cantly improved attention and reduced ADHD symptoms in children with ADHD [23]. However, in a study by Jensen et al., no signi cant changes in attention were detected after 20 sessions of yoga training for 11 boys with ADHD in the same program intervention over a 20-week period. ...
Background
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder disease in children
Methods
Randomized controlled trials or crossover studies were identified in four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, and China Knowledge Network) from January 2000 to January 2022. A total of 27 interventional studies met the inclusion criteria.
Results
Interventions of various types of aerobic exercise performed at moderate intensity (45%-75% peak heart rate) for 20 minutes or more 2–3 times per week best improved executive function and attention deficits in children with ADHD.
Conclusions
Integrating different types of aerobic exercise programs, comparing acute vs long-term effects of the same intervention and assessing gender differences may provide more evidence-based and precise intervention programs for children with ADHD and help exercise interventions to become more effective alternative or complementary non-pharmacological treatments for ADHD in children.
... Imitation skills in children with autism spectrum have been increased by integrated yoga therapy 13 . Randomized controlled studies which investigated the efficacy of mediation therapy in children and adults diagnosed with ADHD have been discussed 14 . Individualized yoga therapy has been proven as adjunctive therapy for eating disorders in children 15 . ...
Background: Yoga has proven effect on personality and psychological disturbances in children. But no studies are available on short term effect of Yoga on Tridoshas, which may point to restoration of positive health. Objective: To understand the effect of Yoga Personality Development Camp on the tridoshas in children. Method: The study was pre-post design with control. 320 children (160 children in each group), aged 8-12 yrs, selected from a residential camp at Prashanti kutiram Jigani (experimental group) and Jayagopal Garodia Rasrtothana school. Experimental group children practiced Integral Yoga module including Asanas, pranayama, nadanusandhana, chanting, and games. Control group children observed were not given any intervention. Caraka Child personality inventory was administered before and after 10 days. Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test were applied. Results: Vata decreased significantly, while Pitta and Kapha increased significantly as compared to the control group. Conclusions: Yoga Personality Development camp has the significant effect on the tridoshas (Vata,Pitta and Kapha) in Children.
... Beneficial effects of physical activity on cognition are contingent on the exertion (i.e., an element of exercise, and not mere activity or movement per se) [70]. Accordingly, we have not included activities such as recreational park walks [352], horse-back riding [353] or yoga [354,355] in the analysis as potential effects of meditation alongside with exposure to nature, animals etc. are beyond the scope of this review. The analysis of the existing studies within the area allows us to consider and discuss which aspects of exercise contribute to any eventual derived effects e.g., on performance in neuropsychological tests. ...
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a complex symptomatology, and core symptoms as well as functional impairment often persist into adulthood. Recent investigations estimate the worldwide prevalence of ADHD in children and adolescents to be 7%, which is a substantial increase compared to a decade ago. Conventional treatment most often includes pharmacotherapy with central nervous stimulants, but the number of non-responders and adverse effects call for treatment alternatives. Exercise has been suggested as a safe and low-cost adjunctive therapy for ADHD and is reported to be accompanied by positive effects on several aspects of cognitive functions in the general child population. Here we review existing evidence that exercise affects cognitive functions in children with and without ADHD and present likely neurophysiological mechanisms of action. We find well-described associations between physical activity and ADHD, as well as causal evidence in the form of small to moderate beneficial effects following acute aerobic exercise on executive functions in children with ADHD. Despite large heterogeneity, meta-analyses find small positive effects of exercise in population-based control (PBC) children, and our extracted effect sizes from long-term interventions suggest consistent positive effects in children and adolescents with ADHD. Paucity of studies probing the effect of different exercise parameters impedes finite conclusions in this regard. Large-scale clinical trials with appropriately timed exercise are needed. In summary, the existing preliminary evidence suggests that exercise can improve cognitive performance intimately linked to ADHD presentations in children with and without an ADHD diagnosis. Based on the findings from both PBC and ADHD children, we cautiously provide recommendations for parameters of exercise.
... Also, in a study by Haffner et al. significant relationship between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and sports and fitness was found (39). According to the results of this study, a positive and meaningful relationship was found between this disorder and the sport and fitness dimension as part of the lifestyle of parents. ...
Background: Family habits and the lifestyle of parents play an important role in the mental and social health of children.
Objectives: Given the high prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Iran and the lack of information on the factors associated with
these disorders, it is necessary to study the relationship between the lifestyle of parents with common psychiatric disorders in chil-
dren and adolescents.
Methods: The present analytical cross-sectional study was undertaken from 2016 to 2017. A total of 1,022 children and adolescents
aged 6 - 18 in Ilam, Iran, were enrolled in the study. The participants were selected through multi-stage cluster sampling from urban
and rural areas of the city. Data on children were collected by using a semi-structured interview with the Kiddie-SADS-Present and
Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) Questionnaire, and the Life Style Questionnaire (LSQ). Using IBM-SPSS software V. 24, the Chi-squared
test, Student’s t-test, and multivariable logistic regression model were used to analyze the data.
Results: There was a significant association between the mental health of parents with separation anxiety disorder (SAD) (adjusted
odds ratio [aOR] = 0.86, P value [P] = 0.01). In addition, significant association was found between physical health (aOR = 1.17, P =
0.04), disease prevention (aOR = 1.22, P = 0.04), spiritual health (aOR = 0.83, P = 0.04), and avoidance of drugs, alcohol, and opiates
(aOR = 0.87, P = 0.004) with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with sports and fitness (aOR =
0.82, P = 0.01), social health (aOR = 1.33, P = 0.007), and social phobia with spiritual health (aOR = 0.76, P = 0.04) showed a statistically
significant association.
Conclusions: This study supports the hypothesis that the lifestyle of parents is an important determinant in the mental health of
children.
Keywords: Adolescents, Children, Psychiatry Disorders, Parents’ Lifestyle
... From a pool of 142 non-duplicate potentially relevant references, a total of 13 studies (reported 17 references), seven in children/adolescents [15][16][17][18][19][20][21] and six in adults, [22][23][24][25][26][27] were retained in the meta-analysis. A detailed description of selection process is shown in figure 1, reporting the PRISMA flow diagram. ...
Background
The efficacy of meditation-based therapies for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) across the lifespan remains uncertain.
Objective
To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy of meditation-based therapies for ADHD core symptoms and associated neuropsychological dysfunctions in children/adolescents or adults with ADHD.
Methods
We searched Pubmed, PsycInfo, Embase+Embase Classic, Ovid Medline and Web of Knowledge with no language, date or type of document restriction, up to 5 May 2018. Random-effects model was used. Heterogeneity was assessed with Cochran’s Q and I² statistics. Publication (small studies) bias was assessed with funnel plots and the Egger’s test. Studies were evaluated with the Cochrane risk of bias (RoB) tool. Analyses were conducted using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis.
Findings
13 RCTs (seven in children/adolescents, n=270 and six in adults, n=339) were retained. Only one RCT was double-blind.Meditation-based therapies were significantly more efficacious than the control conditions in decreasing the severity of ADHD core symptoms (inattention+hyperactivity/impulsivity: children/adolescents: Hedge’s g=-0.44, 95% CI −0.69 to −0.19, I²0%; adults: Hedge’s g=−0.66, 95% CI –1.21 to −0.11, I²81.81%). No significant effects were found on neuropsychological measures of inattention and inhibition in children/adolescents. In adults, significant effects were detected on working memory and inhibition, although these results were based on a small number of studies (n=3). 57% and 43% of the studies in children/adolescents were rated at overall unclear and high risk of bias, respectively. In adults, 33% and 67% of the studies were deemed at overall unclear and high risk of bias, respectively. No evidence of publication bias was found.
Conclusions
Despite statistically significant effects on ADHD combined core symptoms, due to paucity of RCTs, heterogeneity across studies and lack of studies at low risk of bias, there is insufficient methodologically sound evidence to support meditation-based therapies for ADHD.
Trial registration number
PROSPERO 2018 [CRD42018096156].
... The findings of our study are similar to those of the study by Jensen and Kenny 9 who performed a randomized control crossover study of the effects of yoga in school-aged boys with ADHD and found improvements on the parent rating scales but not teacher rating scales. Harrison 11 also found improvements on parent ratings, but did not include teacher ratings in their study, and Haffner et al. 10 found improvements on parent ratings but not on teacher ratings. Mehta et al. 28 found improvements on both parent and teacher ratings. ...
Objective:
Behavioral therapies are first-line for preschoolers with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Studies support yoga for school-aged children with ADHD; this study evaluated yoga in preschoolers on parent- and teacher-rated attention/challenging behaviors, attentional control (Kinder Test of Attentional Performance [KiTAP]), and heart rate variability (HRV).
Methods:
This randomized waitlist-controlled trial tested a 6-week yoga intervention in preschoolers with ≥4 ADHD symptoms on the ADHD Rating Scale-IV Preschool Version. Group 1 (n = 12) practiced yoga first; Group 2 (n = 11) practiced yoga second. We collected data at 4 time points: baseline, T1 (6 weeks), T2 (12 weeks), and follow-up (3 months after T2).
Results:
At baseline, there were no significant differences between groups. At T1, Group 1 had faster reaction times on the KiTAP go/no-go task (p = 0.01, 95% confidence interval [CI], -371.1 to -59.1, d = -1.7), fewer distractibility errors of omission (p = 0.009, 95% CI, -14.2 to -2.3, d = -1.5), and more commission errors (p = 0.02, 95% CI, 1.4-14.8, d = 1.3) than Group 2. Children in Group 1 with more severe symptoms at baseline showed improvement at T1 versus control on parent-rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire hyperactivity inattention (β = -2.1, p = 0.04, 95% CI, -4.0 to -0.1) and inattention on the ADHD Rating Scale (β = -4.4, p = 0.02, 95% CI, -7.9 to -0.9). HRV measures did not differ between groups.
Conclusion:
Yoga was associated with modest improvements on an objective measure of attention (KiTAP) and selective improvements on parent ratings.
... Reviews of multiple studies suggest that Yoga may be effective as a complementary or concomitant treatment in the overall management plan of dealing with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (Haffner, Roos, Goldstein, Parzer, & Resch, 2006;Jensen & Kenny, 2004). Yoga has been tried out as an adjunct in education of children with learning disabilities, mental retardation and attention deficit hyper activity syndrome resulting in improvement of the locomotor skills and attention span (Uma, Nagendra, Nagarathna, Vaidehi, & Seethalakshmi, 1989). ...
Yoga emphasizes on maintaining a healthy lifestyle where the focus is on various energy
channels in the mind and the body that may be implicated in health and illness. The
practice of Yoga dates back to the pre-Vedic times and over the years many new forms
and branches of Yoga have evolved. However, recently it has been recognized as an
adjunctive treatment for management of psychiatric disorders. Though, many therapy
modules based on Yoga do not always meet the contemporary criteria of evidence based
practice, Yoga is still considered a useful adjunctive to traditional psychiatric treatment as
it is cost effective, easily applicable, and unlike pharmacological treatment, has no side
effects. Practice of Yoga should thus, be encouraged to promote health and well-being.
... Among maltreated segment of children, who exhibit impaired emotion regulation, Yoga may promote resilience [33]. ADHD, which is highly prevalent among children, can be controlled effectively through different practices of Yoga [34]. Lack of attentiveness and learning disabilities are often caused by neural imbalance. ...
... Furthermore, activities are not embedded daily, across the curriculum, which has been shown to promote generalization to other contexts where the same skills are needed (Diamond & Ling, 2016). Mindfulness practices are a third approach to attention regulation training under investigation both in children with ADHD (Haffner, Roos, Goldstein, Parzer, & Resch, 2006;Jensen & Kenny, 2004) and children who are developing typically (Flook et al., 2010;Razza et al., 2015). Mindfulness practices are attractive because they are technology-free, appropriate for classroom instruction, use metacognitive language to support self-regulation, and can be embedded across the curriculum in shorter durations of time than computer-assisted or curricular add-on programs. ...
... Disorders of childhood: Reviews of multiple studies suggest that Yoga may be effective as a complementary or concomitant treatment in the overall management plan of dealing with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (Haffner, Roos, Goldstein, Parzer, & Resch, 2006;Jensen & Kenny, 2004). Yoga has been tried out as an adjunct in education of children with learning disabilities, mental retardation and attention deficit hyper activity syndrome resulting in improvement of the locomotor skills and attention span (Uma, Nagendra, Nagarathna, Vaidehi, & Seethalakshmi, 1989). ...
Organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB) is an employee's discretionary behaviour, which influences the organizational effectiveness and employee well-being by lubricating the social machinery of the organization. Several studies have been conducted to identify the consequences and antecedents of this kind of extra-role behaviour. In this line of research, the present study is an effort to explore the relationship of trait emotional intelligence and work-family culture with organizational citizenship behaviour. The study was carried out on 117 front level executives of Indian organizations. Three standardized psychometric measures namely TEIQue-SF, Work- Family Culture Scale and OCB Scale were used for data collection. Obtained data was analyzed by using correlation and regression analysis. Results of the correlational analysis indicate that trait emotional intelligence was significantly and positively associated with OCB and its dimensions. Managerial support was significantly and positively correlated with courtesy and altruism whereas career consequences and organizational time demand was significantly and negatively associated with all the dimensions and overall OCB except sportsmanship dimensions. Results of Regression analysis (simultaneous) supported the results of the correlational analysis in terms of directions, but not exactly in the terms of degree of relationship.
... Disorders of childhood: Reviews of multiple studies suggest that Yoga may be effective as a complementary or concomitant treatment in the overall management plan of dealing with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (Haffner, Roos, Goldstein, Parzer, & Resch, 2006;Jensen & Kenny, 2004). Yoga has been tried out as an adjunct in education of children with learning disabilities, mental retardation and attention deficit hyper activity syndrome resulting in improvement of the locomotor skills and attention span (Uma, Nagendra, Nagarathna, Vaidehi, & Seethalakshmi, 1989). ...
The present study was conducted to translate and validate the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (Taylor, Bagby & Parker, 1994) for the purpose of having a culturally equivalent, linguistically accurate Urdu version with theoretically replicable factor structure to use in Pakistan. The forward-backward translation method was used for translation of this scale. Urdu translated version of the scale was applied on 300 participants of different age groups (M= 35.5, SD= 12.1). Based on a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), results confirmed that a three-dimensional model with the factors difficulty describing feelings, difficulty identifying feelings and externally oriented thinking, provided an excellent fit to the data. Its Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient was .82. The cross-language validity determined on a sample of 60 participants showed highly satisfactory validity indices. Convergent validity of the scale was proved by finding positive correlation of Toronto Alexithymia Scale with anxiety (r = .51, p < .001) and negative relationship with emotional intelligence (r = -.35, p < .001), which revealed its divergent validity.
... Furthermore, yoga has benefit of hyperactivity in children with autism. Two studies found efficacy of yoga on children with ADHD [57,72]. Their results are in agreement with that of the present study. ...
This study examines the effect of yoga training program (YTP) on the severity of autism in children with High Function Autism (HFA). Twenty-nine children aged 7 to 15 (mean = 11.22, SD = 2.91) years were randomly allocated to either yoga or control group. The participants in the yoga group received an 8-week (24-session) Yoga Training Program (YTP). Parents or caregivers of participants completed autism treatment evaluation checklist (ATEC) at baseline and the end of the intervention. The results of the analysis showed that there were significant differences between the two groups with regards to all ATEC sub-scores except ATEC I (speech/language/communication). This study provides support for the implementation of a yoga training program and identifies specific procedural enhancements to reduce the severity of symptoms in children with autism.
... This pilot study also demonstrated that yoga can be an impressive adjunctive treatment for ADHD, though again limited by its small sample size. These researchers advocate for further research into the impact of yoga on children with ADHD [125]. What about the possibilities of yoga entering the school curriculum? ...
Medical yoga is defined as the use of yoga practices for the prevention and treatment of medical conditions. Beyond the physical elements of yoga, which are important and effective for strengthening the body, medical yoga also incorporates appropriate breathing techniques, mindfulness, and meditation in order to achieve the maximum benefits. Multiple studies have shown that yoga can positively impact the body in many ways, including helping to regulate blood glucose levels, improve musculoskeletal ailments and keeping the cardiovascular system in tune. It also has been shown to have important psychological benefits, as the practice of yoga can help to increase mental energy and positive feelings, and decrease negative feelings of aggressiveness, depression and anxiety.
... [53] However, the reported improvement was more from uncontrolled [46,73] than controlled trials. [34,74,75] Sleep intervention reduced symptoms severity and sleep disturbances [52] and improved psychological functioning. [50] MBIs varied in methods, quality, and dosage. ...
The nonpharmacological treatments for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have witnessed a sea change from a rudimentary and haphazard psychosocial to cognitive interventions to social and behavioral skills to body oriented interventions to more sophisticated neurocognitive interventions. As the objective of each treatment varied, the method or procedure of each treatment also differed across studies. Indian research although not very rigorous, did witness changes emphasizing on exploring interventions in reducing symptoms and improving overall behavior. The research literature between 2005 and 2015 was searched using PubMed, Google Scholar, IndMED, MedIND, ResearchGate, and other indexed databases. Results of 110 studies were organized into five broad categories of themes of interventions such as psychosocial, body-focused, cognitive/neuro-cognitive, and cognitive behavioral. Effects of ADHD on cognitive, academic, and behavioral outcomes were also highlighted before the themes of intervention to establish linkage with discussion. However, a limited number (n = 9) of reported Indian studies focusing either on the impact of ADHD on the function of children or on interventions were found, suggesting a huge gap between global and Indian research in the area of children with ADHD. It also highlights the need for development and efficacy testing of indigenous intervention program in different areas of intervention for research and clinical practice.
... The results suggested that yoga can help children with ADHD particularly towards the evening, as the benefits of medication reduce. Another study compared yoga with conventional motor training and found that yoga was superior with respect to performance in an attention task and the way the parents rated the children's behavior [4]. Hence though ADHD is difficult to treat, yoga can be considered for the management of ADHD as an add-on therapy. ...
The psychological changes associated with yoga practice, allow yoga to be used in therapy and rehabilitation. In the present overview only the psychological aspects of rehabilitation have discussed. Applications have been reported in children with attention deficit hyperactive disorder as an add-on therapy, particularly towards evening when the effects of medication reduce. Another recent application is in promotion of healthy aging. Healthy older persons who practiced yoga had improved sleep, better gait and balance, and less chance of depression, compared to those who did not practice yoga. In mentally challenged persons yoga showed better motor coordination , general mental ability, social adjustment and improved central neural processing ability. Another application of yoga which has been studied is post-traumatic stress disorder for survivors of natural disasters, with studies cited about benefits observed in survivors of a tsunami and a flood. Apart from this, yoga therapy resulted in improved perceived quality of life in physical and psychological domains as well as improved postural stability in patients with schizophrenia. The evidence showed that yoga plays an important role to overcome drug addiction at both pre and post clinical stages and it helps individuals to decrease drug dependency and other associated problems. More recent studies have made it apparent that there is no evidence that yoga is beneficial for persons who are HIV positive or those with AIDS. Hence it is apparent that there are several diverse applications of yoga in rehabilitation. Considerable research is still required to verify claims made and understand mechanisms underlying benefits seen.
... 39 Haffner et al. also reported that body-oriented therapeutic methods can be an effective complementary or concomitant treatment for ADHD. 40 The current study measured theta and beta wave amplitudes by QEEG and calculated the theta/beta ratio to evaluate the effect of EAA/T on cerebral function. Beta waves are associated with sustaining attention and thinking, whereas theta waves are prevalent during drowsiness or daydreaming. ...
To investigate clinical effects of equine-assisted activities and therapy (EAA/T) for treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children age 6-13 years.
This 12-week, prospective, open-label trial included 24 sessions of EAA/T. Twenty participants (19 boys and 1 girl) completed 12 weeks of EAA/T. Various clinical tests were administered at baseline and after EAA/T. Assessments included the investigator-administered ADHD-Rating Scale (ARS-I), Clinical Global Impressions (CGI)-Severity Scale, Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement Scale (CGI-I), Gordon Diagnostic System, Korea-Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL), Self-Esteem Scale, second edition of the Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency (BOT-2), and quantitative electroencephalography. The primary efficacy measure was the response rate.
The response rate was 90% based on a 30% or greater decline in the ARS-I score or 85% based on CGI-I scores of 1 or 2. The mean±standard deviation ARS-I score decreased from 33.65±6.42 at baseline to 16.80±6.86 after 12 weeks of EAA/T (p<0.001, paired t-test). EAA/T also resulted in significant improvement in the social problems subscale of the K-CBCL and in the manual dexterity, bilateral coordination, and total motor composite subscales of the BOT-2. The theta/beta ratio on electroencephalography was decreased significantly at the Pz electrode after 12 weeks of EAA/T.
This is the first study demonstrating that EAA/T is effective for improving core ADHD symptoms. On the basis of these results, EAA/T could be a viable treatment strategy as a part of a multimodal therapy for children with ADHD.
... Several studies have shown that alternative therapies such as yoga, massages or eurythmy are beneficial for children with ADHD (Majorek et al. 2004;Peck 2005;Haffner et al. 2006). Yoga includes a variety of poses, breath control, mental concentration and deep relaxation to positively affect mental states (Zipkin 1985). ...
Objective The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the evidence for the effectiveness of exercise interventions on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, anxiety and cognitive functions in children and adolescents.
Method Five databases covering the period up to November 2014 (PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, EBSCO [E-journal, CINAHL, SportDiscus] and The Cochrane Library) were searched. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane tool of bias. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated, and the heterogeneity of the studies was estimated using Cochran’s Q-statistic.
Results Eight randomized controlled trials (n = 249) satisfied the inclusion criteria. The studies were grouped according to the intervention programme: aerobic and yoga exercise.The meta-analysis suggests that aerobic exercise had a moderate to large effect on core symptoms such as attention (SMD = 0.84), hyperactivity (SMD = 0.56) and impulsivity (SMD = 0.56) and related symptoms such as anxiety (SMD = 0.66), executive function (SMD = 0.58) and social disorders (SMD = 0.59) in children with ADHD. Yoga exercise suggests an improvement in the core symptoms of ADHD.
Conclusions The main cumulative evidence indicates that short-term aerobic exercise, based on several aerobic intervention formats, seems to be effective for mitigating symptoms such as attention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, anxiety, executive function and social disorders in children with ADHD.
... The yoga training was superior for all outcome measures of an ADHD rating scale for parents and teachers. The small sample size, attendance variability and exclusion of children with comorbid behavioral conditions were among the limitations of this study (Haffner, Roos, Goldstein, Parzer, &Resch, 2006). Neither study reported any safety problems or adverse effects in the yoga treatment group. ...
Background:
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in psychiatry or integrative psychiatry covers a wide range of biological, psychological and mind-body treatments that enhance standard medical practices and patient outcomes. While CAM approaches are popular amongst patients in their practice as well as in self-report because of their ease of use, health professionals have received limited education in these interventions and often are unaware of their patients' use of CAM treatments.
Method:
This overview highlights evidence-based CAM treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) including dietary interventions, phytomedicines, mind-body practices and neurofeedback.
Results:
While conventional treatments are the mainstays for ADHD, there are a large number of available treatments that can be used to enhance treatment response.
Conclusion:
With improved education and further scientific and clinical research, validated integrative treatments will provide more effective, lower risk and lower cost care for patients with ADHD.
... This indicates that yoga improved emotional stability in children with ADHD (Jensen and Kenny, 2004). Similarly, in a randomized controlled pilot study, it was demonstrated that yoga can be an effective complementary or concomitant treatment for children with ADHD (Haffner et al., 2006). ...
Excessive stress is harmful to academic performance in children and may lead to dropping out of school. To meet the demands of a modern life-style which is full of speed, stress and tension, an all-round child health program is crucial. The use of yoga for children has diverse applications in maintaining and developing their physical, mental, intellectual, emotional and spiritual levels. Yoga, through its physical postures (asana), breathing practices (pranayama), cleansing techniques (kriya), meditation therapies (dhyana) and relaxation training (yoga nidra) yields a positive effect in the management of stress in children. Yoga practice benefited children by improving their eye-hand coordination, attention span, levels of concentration, competitive performance and relaxation. Visually impaired children showed a significant decrease in their abnormal anxiety levels when they practiced yoga for three weeks, while a program of physical activity had no such effect. Socially disadvantaged children in a remand home showed significant improvements in sleep, appetite and general well being, as well as a decrease in physiological arousal after yoga. In one study, it is found that a 4-week program of asana and meditation lowers the aggressive behavior of children. Meditation helped to reduce problems related to maladaptive behavior, increase emotional and physical health and psychological well-being in children. Finally, the possible role of yoga in improving the mental state and general well-being of children with cancer is being explored.
... Pre-post improvements in self-reported ADHD symptoms and test performance on four out of 12 diverse tasks measuring attention, working memory, and cognitive inhibition were noted in a pooled sample of adolescents and adults with no significant age effects on the measured outcomes. Although these findings are promising, limitations include a lack of a control group, a small sample 1 Additional studies have also considered treatments that are included within the category of or overlap with meditation-based interventions, including transcendental meditation and yoga-based interventions (Abadi, Madgaonkar, & Venkatesan, 2008; Grosswald, Stixrud, Travis, & Bateh, 2008; Haffner, Roos, Goldstein, Parzer, & Resch, 2006; Harrison, Manocha, & Rubia, 2004; Jensen & Kenny, 2004; Mehta et al., 2011; Mehta et al., 2012). Although there are similarities, these interventions differentiate from mindfulness meditation training programs. ...
Research examining nonpharmacological interventions for adults diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has expanded in recent years and provides patients with more treatment options. Mindfulness-based training is an example of an intervention that is gaining promising preliminary empirical support and is increasingly administered in clinical settings. The aim of this review is to review the rationale for the application of mindfulness to individuals diagnosed with ADHD, describe the current state of the empirical basis for mindfulness training in ADHD, and summarize a treatment approach specific to adults diagnosed with ADHD: the Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPs) for ADHD Program. Two case study examples are provided to demonstrate relevant clinical issues for practitioners interested in this approach. Directions for future research, including mindfulness meditation as a standalone treatment and as a complementary approach to cognitive-behavioral therapy, are provided.
... An early randomized controlled trial of 14 children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and on medication compared 20 sessions of yoga to an active control group, finding that those in the yoga group improved more in parent-rated ADHD scores (Jensen and Kenny, 2004). More recent studies of children with ADHD or attention problems have also shown positive effects (e.g., Harrison, 2004;Peck et al., 2005;Haffner et al., 2006). Studies have shown that memory and concentration increase in groups other than children with ADHD as well. ...
Research suggesting the beneficial effects of yoga on myriad aspects of psychological health has proliferated in recent years, yet there is currently no overarching framework by which to understand yoga’s potential beneficial effects. Here we provide a theoretical framework and systems-based network model of yoga that focuses on integration of top-down and bottom-up forms of self-regulation. We begin by contextualizing yoga in historical and contemporary settings, and then detail how specific components of yoga practice may affect cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and autonomic output under stress through an emphasis on interoception and bottom-up input, resulting in physical and psychological health. The model describes yoga practice as a comprehensive skillset of synergistic process tools that facilitate bidirectional feedback and integration between high- and low-level brain networks, and afferent and re-afferent input from interoceptive processes (somatosensory, viscerosensory, chemosensory). From a predictive coding perspective we propose a shift to perceptual inference for stress modulation and optimal self-regulation. We describe how the processes that sub-serve self-regulation become more automatized and efficient over time and practice, requiring less effort to initiate when necessary and terminate more rapidly when no longer needed. To support our proposed model, we present the available evidence for yoga affecting self-regulatory pathways, integrating existing constructs from behavior theory and cognitive neuroscience with emerging yoga and meditation research. This paper is intended to guide future basic and clinical research, specifically targeting areas of development in the treatment of stress-mediated psychological disorders.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) results in significant functional impairment. Current treatments, particularly for adults, are limited. Previous research indicates that exercise may offer an alternative approach to managing ADHD, but research into different types of exercise and adult populations is limited. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of acute exercise (aerobic cycling vs mind-body yoga exercises) on symptoms of ADHD in adults. Adults with ADHD (N = 82) and controls (N = 77) were randomly allocated to 10 min of aerobic (cycling) or mind-body (Hatha yoga) exercise. Immediately before and after exercise, participants completed the Test of Variables of Attention task, Delay Discounting Task, and Iowa Gambling Task to measure attention and impulsivity. Actigraphy measured movement frequency and intensity. Both groups showed improved temporal impulsivity post-exercise, with cycling beneficial to all, whilst yoga only benefited those with ADHD. There were no effects of exercise on attention, cognitive or motor impulsivity, or movement in those with ADHD. Exercise reduced attention and increased movement in controls. Exercise can improve temporal impulsivity in adult ADHD but did not improve other symptoms and worsened some aspects of performance in controls. Exercise interventions should be further investigated.
Background: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobiological disorder impacting 1 in 5 children. It is typically characterized by high levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that are developmentally inappropriate and significantly affect the children's academic, social and behavioral domains, resulting in poor academic performance and impaired social skills. The behavioral issues of children with ADHD also impact the teaching-learning environment of the inclusion classrooms. Yoga is a mind-body practice and intervention that has been widely used in schools to combat academic and behavioral issues of students with and without ADHD. Objective: The present study aims to complete a systematic literature review about the Physical; Socio-emotional, psychological, behavioral, and cognitive/academic benefits of school-based yoga intervention for students with and without ADHD in the preschool to the high school level. Methodology: A systematic literature review about the benefits of school-based yoga intervention for students with and without ADHD in the preschool to the high school level was conducted by reviewing many peer-reviewed articles, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews, conducted from the year 2000-2022 to study the qualitative and quantitative outcomes and efficacy of school-based yoga intervention. Results & Conclusion: An outcome analysis of the benefits of various school-based yoga interventions are described, their qualitative and quantitative outcomes are described and compared. Though implications of these data-driven interventions are also discussed, many studies are exploratory and derive results based on anecdotal and self-report questionnaires, without much empirical evidence. Though this limits the scope of generalization of yoga benefits, there is still significant evidence and data supporting the benefits of yoga intervention, making it one of the most promising interventions for school students with and without ADHD.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has a growing incidence and prevalence in the United States and throughout the world, much of which is contributed to increased awareness of the condition and solidified diagnostic criteria. Substance use disorder (SUD) similarly has seen a sharp increase, particularly with the rising cases of opioid abuse. Management of ADHD is done primarily with pharmacologic therapy, often stimulants and with psychosocial interventions (i.e., exercise, meditation, peer-to-peer intervention, etc.) for adjunctive management. Management of SUD involves cessation and treatment based on the underlying drug of abuse. Many clinicians are uncomfortable treating ADHD in patients with SUD based on concerns the intervention may lead to an adverse event, including drug relapse, and the development of other psychiatric comorbidities. Concerns also arise about stimulants acting as a gateway drug in adolescents leading to the onset of SUD.
Thus, in this narrative review, we aim to shed light on ADHD in relation to SUD and to provide clinical insight based on the current scientific literature on the topic. ADHD causes lesions in subcortical structures in the basal ganglia and limbic system. Treatment of ADHD with stimulants has been shown to normalize malformed neuroanatomical variations and lead to improved long-term outcomes compared to non-treatment of ADHD. Based on current scientific literature, it is recommended to treat ADHD with guideline-directed pharmacologic agents including stimulants along with non-pharmacologic interventions primarily exercise. There may be some improvement in reducing risky behavior, such as substance abuse, and may even help prevent the development of SUD.
Purpose
Little is known about the effects of yoga training in adults with ADHD symptoms. This pilot study sought to determine the feasibility and selected psychological effects of 6 weeks of yoga training in women screening positive for adult ADHD compared to a wait-list control group.
Methods
A randomized trial was conducted with 32 adult women (18–24 years) who volunteered after screening positive for adult ADHD as assessed by the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). Participants were randomized to 6 weeks of Bikram yoga training or to a wait-list control group. The yoga intervention consisted of two 90-min classes per week. Multilevel models were used to test hypothesized interactions of yoga-induced improvements compared to controls across time (baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks). The primary outcomes assessed inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility and working memory using the NIH Toolbox. Separate models with trait mindfulness, trait anxiety and expectations for change in either attention or working memory as covariates tested whether these variables mediated the changes in the three measures of executive function. Secondary outcomes included mood, perceived functional impairment and motivation for, and hyperactivity during, the cognitive tests.
Results
No adverse events were observed. Attendance averaged 91.7% among the 69% of the sample that did not dropout. No significant Group X Time interactions were found for any of the psychological outcomes and the null executive function findings were unchanged when including the covariates.
Conclusion
Six-weeks of yoga training twice per week is potentially feasible for women experiencing ADHD symptoms, but an exercise stimulus of this duration and magnitude yields no beneficial cognitive or mood outcomes.
Objective: To assess the effectiveness of physical activity (PA) intervention on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related symptoms.
Method: Studies that investigated PA intervention for ADHD-related symptoms were identified through searching PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases from inception through June 2021. Standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess the effectiveness of PA intervention on improving ADHD-related symptoms. The meta-analyses were conducted using fixed-effect or random-effect models according to the heterogeneity of the studies.
Results: Nine before–after studies (232 participants) and 14 two-group control studies (162 participants/141 controls) were included in this meta-analysis. Combined results for before–after studies indicated significant improvements on all studied ADHD-related symptoms (inattention: SMD = 0.604, 95% CI: 0.374–0.834, p < 0.001; hyperactivity/impulsivity: SMD = 0.676, 95% CI: 0.401–0.950, p < 0.001; emotional problems: SMD = 0.416, 95% CI: 0.283–0.549, p < 0.001; behavioral problems: SMD = 0.347, 95% CI: 0.202–0.492, p < 0.001). Meta-analyses for two-group control studies further confirmed that PA intervention significantly improved the inattentive symptom (SMD = 0.715, 95% CI: 0.105, 1.325, p = 0.022). Subgroup analyses suggested significant beneficial effect on inattention symptoms in children. Moreover, closed motor skills were beneficial for hyperactive/impulsive problems (SMD = 0.671, p < 0.001), while open motor skills were beneficial for attention problems (SMD = 0.455, p = 0.049). When excluding studies with combined medication, the studies in unmedicated participants in before–after studies still showed significant results in all studied ADHD-related symptoms as in the overall analysis. Given the limited sample size, the best frequency and intensity of PA intervention need further investigation.
Conclusion: Our results suggested that PA intervention could possibly improve ADHD-related symptoms, especially inattention symptoms. Closed-skill and open-skill activities could be beneficial for hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention symptoms, respectively. Further high-quality randomized clinical trials with large sample size are needed.
This article reports a study on the impact of spiritual training lessons as compared to creative arts lessons with a cohort of Indian and Sri Lankan doctoral students immigrated to the US. The aim was to examine programme effectiveness in mitigating their acculturative stress, promoting self-efficacy, and wellbeing. Spiritual training lessons were more effective (p ≤ .01, Hedges’ g = −3.59–3.22); however, creative arts lessons also mitigated acculturative stress of participants (p = .006, Hedges’ g = −0.43). Post-test acculturative stress scores were lower and self-efficacy and wellbeing scores were higher for male students, with technical degrees, Hindu and Sikh students, ever-single, living alone, studying technical subjects, and whose doctoral research was practicum/practice-based. Spiritual training lessons attended and homework lessons mediated the association between significant socio-demographic and academic predictors and changes in outcomes. Creative arts homework lessons also mediated the association between gender, previous qualifications and acculturative stress scores. Spiritual training lessons can be incorporated into induction and continued support programmes for international doctoral students at US universities. Some modifications may be needed for female students, with postgraduate degrees in humanities/social sciences, Christian and Muslim students, currently married, cohabiting with spouse/children/dependents, studying humanities/social science subjects, and doing applied research.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of attentional games, physical practice and mixed practice on the attention types and cognitive function of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). For this purpose, forty children with ADHD were selected and randomly assigned to four groups: physical practice, attention games, mixed practice, and control. The participants practiced for 16 sessions (60 minutes per session) according to their grouping. After respectively 24 and 72 hours, they participated-in posttests. The results of covariate analysis showed that the mixed group almost outperformed the other experimental groups in all subtests. These results were interpreted with respect to the advantages of two practices during mixed practice.
Background: Purposeful physical activities improve cognitive functions. Two possible mechanisms are available for this intervention including the impact of the physical component of exercise and goal-directedness as a cognitive component. In the present study, we aimed to compare the effect of physical activity with and without cognitive demand on executive functions and behavioral symptoms in children with ADHD.
Methods: Thirty children with ADHD were randomly assigned to two equal groups of physical activity training with and without cognitive demand. Exercise for cognitive improvement and rehabilitation (EXCIR) or running, as an aerobic exercise, were used for intervention in two groups. Executive functions and ADHD symptoms were measured in three sessions including baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up assessments, using 1-back, Wisconsin Card Sorting, and Go/No-Go tests and Conner’s Teacher and Parent Rating scales. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used for analysis.
Results: The results showed physical activity with cognitive demand, compared to the physical activity without cognitive demand, has a better and longer impact on the improvement of executive functions and ADHD symptoms.
Conclusions: Cognitive rehabilitation with combined physical and cognitive tasks has a beneficial and lasting impact on impaired executive functions and behavioral symptoms in children with ADHD.
http://spsyj.ssrc.ac.ir/article_70.html
Abstract :
The aim of this research was to study the relationship between family functioning and mental toughness in Paralympic athletes. This is a descriptive and correlational research. The sample statistics comprises 50 athletes who have competed in the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Data were measured using two questionnaires: Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire Goby and Sheared, and 45-factor Family Functioning Questionnaire. Reliability and validity of both questionnaires had been confirmed in previous studies. The results showed that there is a significant positive relationship between family functioning and mental toughness in Paralympics athletes. The three dimensions of family functioning were significant predictor variables in determining mental toughness. The findings revealed the importance of family functioning in the formation of mental toughness.
Keywords :
Mental Toughness; Family Functioning; Paralympic Athletes
7 Ok-S - O - R
Besharati A. , Meshkati Z. , Nezakat Alhosseini M. , (2016) , The effect of exciting and relaxing music on acquisition and learning of the precision of handball penalty throw , Journal of sport management and Action behavior ,12,24 , 271-282 [ in Persian ] ,
Doi : 10.22080/JSMB.2016.1304
http://msb.journals.umz.ac.ir/article_1304_2cb62f36bdd96a4643c805fca21b3eaf.pdf
Abstract :
Background & Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of two types of relaxing and exciting music on acquisition and learning of the precision of handball penalty throw.
Methodology: Forty-five female students aged 10-12 years were purposefully selected and randomly divided into three groups: relaxing- music group, exciting- music group and no music. The acquisition phase includes 6 weeks for handball penalty throw, three sessions per week for 45-minutes. The test of precision in the pre-test, acquisition tests, and retention test were conducted under the same conditions. The results were analyzed using one way ANOVA tests for pre-tests and retention test and ANOVA with repeated measures 3 (group) × 6 (sessions) for the acquisition phase at the level of α = 0.05.
Results: In the pre-test phase, there was no significant difference between the three groups (p=0.083). The effect of the training sessions (p=0.002) and interaction effect between groups and training sessions (p>0.001) were significant. In the retention phase, there was no difference between the three groups (p=0.137).
Conclusion: Music, regardless of its type (exciting, relaxing), was effective on acquisition of the precision of penalty throw; however, it had no effect on retention.
Keywords: Relaxing music, Exciting music, Acquisition, Learning, Precision of handball penalty throw
8 Ok-S - O - R
Behzadi Seyf Abad E. , Meshkati Z. , Nezakatalhosseini M. , Jafari Gh. , (2015) , The Effect of Local Indigenous Games on Executive-Cognitive Functions in Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder , Motor behavior and sport psychology, 7 ,1 , 1049-1061 [ In Persian ]
http://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article/view/9973/4975
Abstract :
Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of local indigenous games on executive cognitive functions of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: 30 children with attention deficits/hyperactivity disorder (combined type) were selected through purposive available sampling, and were randomly assigned into control and experimental groups.The Experimental group participated in the local indigenous games for 12 weeks; while the control group continued their daily activities during the training period. The instruments used in this study were Conners' questionnaire, Wechsler intelligence test, and an apparatus to measure executive-cognitive functions. Both groups participated in a pretest and posttest. the data were analyzed using covariance analysis. Results: The results showed that local indigenous games intervention is effective for improving executive- cognitive functions (reaction time, Selective attention, response inhibition, vigilance, impulsivity and attention shifting). Conclusion: According to the findings of the study, it can be concluded that local indigenous games can be used for improving executive-cognitive functions in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Key words: attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, executive-cognitive functions, local indigenous games.
9 Ok-S - O
Beik M. , Nezakatalhosseini M. , Badami R. , Abedi A. , (2014) , The Effect of Yoga Training on Executive Functions in Children with ADHD ,Quarterly Journal of Exceptional Children, 14 (2), 17-32. [in Persian].
http://www.ensani.ir/storage/Files/20160216093740-9489-128.pdf
Abstract :
Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of Yoga training on executive functions in children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Method: A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 26 children with ADHD. The participants, were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Conners Questionnaire (short form of parents and teacher), Wechsler Revised Intelligence Test, and a Cognitive-motor functions apparatus were used to collect the data on diagnosing the disorder, childrens IQ, and executive-motor functions, respectively. An Independent t-test and between groups ANOVA with repeated measures were used to analyze the collected data. Results: A significant difference was found between the experimental and control groups in executive functions. Conclusion: The results showed that 12 weeks of yoga training had a significant effect on executive functions (response inhibition, vigilance, impulsivity and set-shifting). Therefore, it can be concluded that Yoga
can be an efficient training method to help improving executive functions in individuals withADHD.
Keywords : Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, executive functions, inhibitory control, response inhibition, Yoga training.
Introduction: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of yoga training on cognitive-motor functions in children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Method: A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 26 children with ADHD (20 males and 6 females) aged between 6 and 10 year who referred to the Counseling and Psychological Clinical Shenakht Center of Esfahan in the second half of year 2012. The participants were selected through convenience sampling and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received a 12-week yoga training; however, the control group performed their daily activities. Both groups participated in a pre-test and post-test; the experimental group participated in an additional follow-up test four month after the post-test. Conner’s Questionnaire (short form of parents and teacher), Wechsler Revised Intelligence Test, and an apparatus were used to collect the data on possible diagnosis, children’s IQ, and cognitive-motor functions, respectively. An independent t-test and between groups ANOVA with repeated measure (α< 0.05) in terms of cognitive-motor functions. Conclusion: A 12-weeks of yoga training appears to leave a significant effect on cognitive functions (selective attention and reaction time). Therefore, yoga may be suggested as an appropriate training method to help improving cognitive functions in individuals with ADHD.
Keywords: Attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder, Cognitive-motor functions, Reaction time, Selective attention, Yoga training
Introduction: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of yoga
training on cognitive-motor functions in children with attention deficit-hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD). Method: A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 26 children
with ADHD (20 males and 6 females) aged between 6 and 10 year who referred to the
Counseling and Psychological Clinical Shenakht Center of Esfahan in the second half of
year 2012. The participants were selected through convenience sampling and were
randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received
a 12-week yoga training; however, the control group performed their daily activities. Both
groups participated in a pre-test and post-test; the experimental group participated in an
additional follow-up test four month after the post-test. Conner’s Questionnaire (short
form of parents and teacher), Wechsler Revised Intelligence Test, and an apparatus were used to collect the data on possible diagnosis, children’s IQ, and cognitive-motor
functions, respectively. An independent t-test and between groups ANOVA with repeated
measure (α<0.05) were used to analyze the data. Results: There was a significant
difference between the experimental and control groups in pre-test and post-test (p< 0.05)
in terms of cognitive-motor functions. Conclusion: A 12-weeks of yoga training appears
to leave a significant effect on cognitive functions (selective attention and reaction time).
Therefore, yoga may be suggested as an appropriate training method to help improving
cognitive functions in individuals with ADHD.
Keywords: Attention deficit– hyperactivity disorder, Cognitive-motor functions, Reaction
time, Selective attention, Yoga training
Abstract :
Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of Yoga training on executive functions in children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Method: A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 26 children with ADHD. The participants, were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Conner’s Questionnaire (short form of parents and teacher), Wechsler Revised Intelligence Test, and a Cognitive-motor functions apparatus were used to collect the data on diagnosing the disorder, children’s IQ, and executive-motor functions, respectively. An Independent t-test and between groups ANOVA with repeated measures were used to analyze the collected data.
Results: A significant difference was found between the experimental and control groups in executive functions.
Conclusion: The results showed that 12 weeks of yoga training had a significant effect on executive functions (response inhibition, vigilance, impulsivity and set-shifting). Therefore, it can be concluded that Yoga can be an efficient training method to help improving executive functions in individuals with ADHD.
Keywords : Attention defici-hyperactivity disorder, executive functions, inhibitory control, response inhibition, Yoga training.
Background
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders affecting some 8–10% of children worldwide. Increasing research has shed light on the life course of the disorder, suggesting that majority of children with ADHD will continue to have persistent symptoms into adulthood. The mainstay of ADHD management has been pharmacologic and behavioural/psychological interventions, with little attention paid to exercise as a potential management strategy. A systematic review, examining both the short-term and long-term effects of exercise on children with ADHD, is timely and necessary to guide further research in this area.
Methods
Using the keywords [exercise OR physical OR activity OR sport] AND [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder OR ADHD OR ADDH], a preliminary search on the PubMed and Ovid database yielded 613 papers published in English between 1-Jan-1980 and 1-July-2016. Full articles were also reviewed for references of interest.
Results
A total of 30 studies were included in this systematic review. Both short-term and long-term studies support the clinical benefits of physical activity for individuals with ADHD. Cognitive, behavioural and physical symptoms of ADHD were alleviated in most instances, and the largest intervention effects were reported for mixed exercise programs. No adverse effects arising from physical exercise were reported in any of the studies, suggesting that exercise is a well-tolerated intervention.
Conclusion
Physical activity, in particular moderate-to-intense aerobic exercise, is a beneficial and well-tolerated intervention for children and adolescents with ADHD. Future research should include more adequately-powered trials and investigate the ideal exercise prescription.
Purpose of Review
Schizophrenia is a debilitating psychiatric illness requiring multimodal treatments. Besides pharmacotherapy, several adjunct treatments have been recommended, including yoga. We review recent findings speaking to yoga’s efficacy and towards gaining a better understanding of why yoga may affect positive change, evidence on putative neurobiological mechanisms.
Recent Findings
Recent research with schizophrenia patients suggests that yoga may lead to improvements in symptoms, cognition, and functioning. These changes may occur through a variety of mechanisms including yoga-induced changes in neural plasticity, the neural mechanisms supporting internal mentation, oxytocin release, BDNF, and other factors. We review reports of possible mechanisms through which yoga is believed to impact response in schizophrenia.
Summary
Our current review cannot provide a conclusive statement on the use of yoga as a standard treatment for schizophrenia; however, the available evidence suggests that yoga may positively impact aspects of the illness in patients with schizophrenia. Further research with adequately powered randomized controlled trials is essential.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions including mindful movements such as yoga on attention and executive function in children and adolescents. Systematic searches were conducted on five databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus). Included studies consisting of randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials with a mindfulness-based intervention were assessed for quality, and relevant data was extracted and collated. Thirteen randomized control trials were identified as meeting inclusion criteria, including mindfulness-based psychological interventions (n = 7), yoga (n = 3), and traditional meditation techniques (n = 2). Studies recruited adolescents or children that were typically developing, diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, orphans, or had reading difficulties, or in correctional schools/institutions. The quality of the 13 studies ranged from low to high based on the PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) scale with the average score of 6.62 out of the highest possible score of 11 (the higher the score, the higher the quality). Five of the 13 studies found a statistically significant intervention effect for at least one outcome measure of attention or executive function with medium to large effect sizes (0.3–32.03). Mindfulness-based interventions are a promising approach to targeting attention and executive function in children and adolescence, especially with the use of computerized measures as outcome measures. All identified studies included interventions with multiple treatment components, so the effects attributable to mindfulness-based training still remain undetermined. Further quality trials are needed to assess the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in enhancing attention and executive function in children and adolescents.
Introduction
Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common childhood physical disability, with life-long impacts for 1.77 in 1000 children. Although CP is primarily a physical disability, children with CP have an increased risk of experiencing cognitive difficulties, particularly attention and executive function deficits. Impairment in cognitive abilities can lead to subsequent impairment in independent functioning, education, employment and interpersonal relationships. This paper reports the protocol of a randomised controlled trial of a novel family-centred lifestyle intervention based on mindfulness and hatha yoga principles (MiYoga). MiYoga aims to enhance child and parent outcomes for children with CP.
Methods and analysis
The aim is to recruit 36 child-parent dyads (children aged 6–16 years; bilateral or unilateral CP; Gross Motor Function Classification System I–III), who will be randomly assigned to two groups: MiYoga andwaitlistt control. The MiYoga programme will be facilitated in a group format for 8 weeks. Assessments will be administered at baseline, prior to MiYoga, following completion of MiYoga, and at 6-month follow-up (retention). The primary outcome will be the child’s sustained attentional ability as measured by the Conner’s Continuous Performance Test II. Other outcomes of interest for children with CP consists of attentional control, physical functioning, behavioural and well-being. For parents, the outcomes of interest are mindfulness, psychological flexibility and well-being. Data will be analysed using general linear models, specifically analysis of covariance and analysis of variance.
Ethics and dissemination
Full ethical approval for this study has been obtained by the Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service Research Ethics Committee (HREC/12/QRCH/120) and The University of Queensland (2012000993). If MiYoga is proven effective, its dissemination would assist children with CP and complement their ongoing therapy by improving the ability of the child to pay attention at school and in therapy, and alleviating environmentalstressorss for both the child and his/her parents.
Trial registration number
ACTRN12613000729729; Pre-results.http://www.ANZCTR.org.au/ACTRN12613000729729.aspx
Date of trial registration
Prospectively registered on 2 July 2013–present (ongoing).
Findings to date
Recruitment is complete. Data are still being collected at present. We aim to complete data collection by February 2017.
Introduction:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with no clear etiopathogenesis. Owing to unique socio cultural milieu of India, it is worthwhile reviewing research on ADHD from India and comparing findings with global research. Thereby, we attempted to provide a comprehensive overview of research on ADHD from India.
Methods:
A boolean search of articles published in English from September 1966 to January 2017 on electronic search engines Google Scholar, PubMed, IndMED, MedIND, using the search terms "ADHD", "Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder", "Hyperactivity" ,"Child psychiatry", "Hyperkinetic disorder", "Attention Deficit Disorder", "India"was carried out and peer - reviewed studies conducted among human subjects in India were included for review. Case reports, animal studies, previous reviews were excluded from the current review.
Results:
Results of 73 studies found eligible for the review were organized into broad themes such as epidemiology, etiology, course and follow up, clinical profile and comorbidity, assessment /biomarkers, intervention/treatment parameters, pathways to care and knowledge and attitude towards ADHD.
Discussion:
There was a gap noted in research from India in the domains of biomarkers, course and follow up and non-pharmacological intervention. The prevalence of ADHD as well as comorbidity of Bipolar Disorder was comparatively lower compared to western studies. The studies found unique to India include comparing the effect of allopathic intervention with Ayurvedic intervention, yoga as a non pharmacological intervention. There is a need for studies from India on biomarkers, studies with prospective research design, larger sample size and with matched controls.
Objective:
To determine whether the odds of positive conclusions in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of yoga, differ between yoga styles.
Design:
Systematic review of yoga RCTs. Medline/PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, IndMED and the tables of content of specialist yoga journals, not listed in medical databases, were screened up to 12 February, 2014 for RCTs comparing yoga interventions to non-yoga interventions. The RCTs' conclusions were classified as positive (yoga is helpful for a respective condition) or not positive; and these were compared between different yoga styles using the Chi squared test and multiple logistic regression analysis.
Results:
A total of 306 RCTs were included. These applied 52 different yoga styles, the most commonly used of which were: hatha yoga (36 RCTs), Iyengar yoga (31 RCTs), pranayama (26 RCTs), and the integrated approach to yoga therapy (15 RCTs). Positive conclusions were reached in 277 RCTs (91%); the proportion of positive conclusions did not differ between yoga styles (p=0.191).
Conclusion:
RCTs with different yoga styles do not differ in their odds of reaching positive conclusions. Given that most RCTs were positive, the choice of an individual yoga style can be based on personal preferences and availability.
Public and clinician interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has grown in recent decades, and has been driven in part by concerns about medication side effects, nonresponse to standard medications, and the high cost of prescription medications. CAM (natural products and therapies) for many people already plays a central role in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. As an area of special interest within psychiatry, the concept of integrative psychiatry (IP) supports the development of a treatment approach that more fully incorporates evidence-based use of medicinal herbs, nutrients, and mind–body practices with pharmacotherapy and psychological therapies.
The Sequential Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) trial highlighted the benefits and limitations of combining or switching antidepressants (Rush et al., 2006). Treatment resistance is an indication of our incomplete understanding of the neurobiological basis of mood disorders. For example, paradigms for treating affective disorders are expanding beyond monoamine neurotransmission models to incorporate other regulatory systems (Rizvi & Kennedy, 2011). The increase in information about the effects of immune function, autonomic nervous system balance, neuroendocrine systems, antioxidants (cellular defense and repair), mitochondrial energy transport, the arachidonic acid cascade, second messengers, and gene activation opens the way for new therapeutic approaches, including the use of CAM treatments that may modulate a broad array of the neuropathological underpinnings of psychiatric disorders.
www.tasmanpsychiatry.com
This study researched the clinical effects of hippotherapy and medication in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children.
Background
A growing number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have investigated the therapeutic value of yoga interventions. This bibliometric analysis aimed to provide a comprehensive review of the characteristics of the totality of available randomized yoga trials.
Methods
All RCTs of yoga were eligible. Medline/PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, IndMED, and the tables of content of yoga specialty journals not listed in medical databases were screened through February 2014. Bibliometric data, data on participants, and intervention were extracted and analyzed descriptively.
Results
Published between 1975 and 2014, a total of 366 papers were included, reporting 312 RCTs from 23 different countries with 22,548 participants. The median study sample size was 59 (range 8–410, interquartile range = 31, 93). Two hundred sixty-four RCTs (84.6%) were conducted with adults, 105 (33.7%) with older adults and 31 (9.9%) with children. Eighty-four RCTs (26.9%) were conducted with healthy participants. Other trials enrolled patients with one of 63 varied medical conditions; the most common being breast cancer (17 RCTs, 5.4%), depression (14 RCTs, 4.5%), asthma (14 RCTs, 4.5%) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (13 RCTs, 4.2%). Whilst 119 RCTs (38.1%) did not define the style of yoga used, 35 RCTs (11.2%) used Hatha yoga and 30 RCTs (9.6%) yoga breathing. The remaining 128 RCTs (41.0%) used 46 varied yoga styles, with a median intervention length of 9 weeks (range 1 day to 1 year; interquartile range = 5, 12). Two hundred and forty-four RCTs (78.2%) used yoga postures, 232 RCTs (74.4%) used breath control, 153 RCTs (49.0%) used meditation and 32 RCTs (10.3%) used philosophy lectures. One hundred and seventy-four RCTs (55.6%) compared yoga with no specific treatment; 21 varied control interventions were used in the remaining RCTs.
Conclusions
This bibliometric analysis presents the most complete up-to-date overview on published randomized yoga trials. While the available research evidence is sparse for most conditions, there was a marked increase in published RCTs in recent years.
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