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Randomised trial, 2019

Does yoga help depression and blood pressure in women with premenstrual syndrome?

Yes. Yoga significantly reduced depression scores and lowered diastolic blood pressure in women with PMS and depression.

Moderate study design 62 women aged 20-45 with PMS and depression in Tabriz, Iran

What they did

62 women aged 20-45 with PMS and depression in Tabriz, Iran were randomly assigned to two groups. One group did yoga for 2 months (3 sessions per week, 60 minutes each). The other group did nothing. Depression and blood pressure were measured before and after.

What they found

Depression scores improved significantly in the yoga group compared to control (P < 0.036) and compared to the yoga group's baseline (P < 0.001). Diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly after yoga (P < 0.029).

What it means for you

Yoga may help reduce depression and lower blood pressure in women with PMS. The study was small and lasted only 2 months. The control group did nothing, so larger studies with better controls are needed.

62

women studied

2

months of yoga

P < 0.001

depression improvement significance

About the study

Original title
Yoga positively affected depression and blood pressure in women with premenstrual syndrome in a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors
Ghaffarilaleh G, Ghaffarilaleh V, Sanamno Z et al.
Journal
Complementary therapies in clinical practice
Year
2019
Study design
Randomised trial
Participants
62
What was tested
Yoga for 2 months, 3 sessions per week, 60 minutes per session

Topics