Yoga and social support reduce prenatal depression, anxiety and cortisol.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of yoga (physical activity) versus social support (verbal activity) on prenatal and postpartum depression. Ninety-two prenatally depressed women were randomly assigned to a yoga or a social support control group at 22 weeks gestation. The yoga group participated in a 20-min group session (only physical poses) once per week for 12 weeks.

Peer support and interpersonal psychotherapy groups experienced decreased prenatal depression, anxiety and cortisol.

Forty-four prenatally depressed women were randomly assigned to peer support or interpersonal psychotherapy groups at 22 weeks gestation. The peer support group participated in a 20-minute group session once per week for 12 weeks, and the interpersonal psychotherapy group met for one hour per week for 12 weeks. Assessments were conducted before and after the sessions at 22 and 34 weeks gestation.

Rheumatoid arthritis in upper limbs benefits from moderate pressure massage therapy.

Methods: Forty-two adults with rheumatoid arthritis in the upper limbs were randomly assigned to a moderate pressure or a light pressure massage therapy group. A therapist massaged the affected arm and shoulder once a week for a 4-week period and also taught the participant self-massage to be done once daily.

Results: The moderate pressure vs.

Tai chi/yoga reduces prenatal depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances.

Ninety-two prenatally depressed pregnant women were randomly assigned to a tai chi/yoga or a waitlist control group at an average of 22 weeks gestation. The tai chi/yoga group participated in a 20-min group session per week for 12 weeks. At the end of the treatment period the tai chi/yoga group had lower summary depression (CES-D) scores, as well as lower negative affect and somatic/vegetative symptoms subscale scores on the CES-D, lower anxiety (STAI) scores and lower sleep disturbances scores.

Yoga and massage therapy reduce prenatal depression and prematurity.

Eighty-four prenatally depressed women were randomly assigned to yoga, massage therapy or standard prenatal care control groups to determine the relative effects of yoga and massage therapy on prenatal depression and neonatal outcomes. Following 12 weeks of twice weekly yoga or massage therapy sessions (20 min each) both therapy groups versus the control group had a greater decrease on depression, anxiety and back and leg pain scales and a greater increase on a relationship scale. In addition, the yoga and massage therapy groups did not differ on neonatal outcomes including gestational age and birthweight, and those groups, in turn, had greater gestational age and birthweight than the control group.

Hand pain is reduced by massage therapy.

Methods: Forty-six adults with hand pain were randomly assigned to a massage therapy or a standard treatment control group. Those assigned to the massage therapy group were massaged by a therapist on the affected hand once a week for a 4-week period and were also taught self-massage on the hand that was to be done by the individual participant once daily.

Results: The massage therapy group versus the control group had less pain and greater grip strength after the first and last sessions, and their anxiety and depressed mood scores decreased more than the control group.

Breakup distress in university students.

A sample of 192 university students who had experienced a recent breakup of a romantic relationship was divided into high versus low score groups based on the Breakup Distress Scale. Females had higher Breakup Distress Scale scores. The group who had high Breakup Distress Scale scores reported having less time since the breakup occurred, did not initiate the breakup, reported that the breakup was sudden and unexpected, felt rejected and betrayed, and had not yet found a new relationship.