Integration of hatha yoga and evidence-based psychological treatments for common mental disorders: An evidence map

The role of interoception in reducing trauma-associated distress: a feasibility study

Background: Altered interoception plays an important role in chronic stress and posttraumatic stress disorder. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TSY) intervention for improving emotional distress and psychological discomfort in women living under circumstances of social and gender vulnerability. We assessed the effect of the treatment on the interoceptive mechanisms, and whether the psychological improvements were mediated by the changes in these mechanisms.Methods: The study involved a sample of 62 women who attended public community centres dedicated to supporting women victims of gender-based violence or who were socially and economically disadvantaged because of their gender. Participants underwent a six-week TSY programme. We evaluated dropout rate, adherence, and intervention satisfaction. We measured emotional distress, psychological discomfort, interoceptive mechanisms, and two nonequivalent dependent variables to enhance internal validity. We compared pre-post differences using paired samples t-test and a structural equation model (SEM) analysis was performed to compare the changes in the outcomes with the changes in the nonequivalent dependent variables. Mediation models were adjusted to evaluate the role of changes in interoception on outcome changes.Results: Fourteen (23%) women dropped out, mainly after the first intervention session. Intervention adherence (mean attendance 5.3 over 6 sessions) and acceptability were high (mean satisfaction 3.4 over 4). We observed post-intervention improvements in anxiety, depression, psychological discomfort, body responsiveness, and interoceptive awareness. The changes in the outcomes were larger than the changes in the nonequivalent dependent variables. Additionally, we found that the changes in body responsiveness partially mediated the change in anxiety and psychological discomfort but not in depression.Conclusions: TSY could be an interesting therapeutic approach for women experiencing chronic posttraumatic stress symptomatology. Our findings underscore the role of interoceptive mechanisms in traumatic stress and emphasize the importance of addressing these aspects.

A pilot study of trauma-sensitive yoga and Breathe2Relax among service members in an intensive outpatient program

Emerging research indicates that yoga is a promising adjunct to psychological trauma treatment. The current pilot study examined the associations between psychophysiological stress, diaphragmatic breathing (DB), and a trauma-sensitive yoga (TSY) regimen developed specifically for trauma-exposed service members in alignment with recent calls for precision in reporting therapeutic yoga protocols. Participants were 31 service members enrolled in a trauma-focused intensive outpatient program (IOP). Service members participated in a brief diaphragmatic breathing (DB) session using the Breathe2Relax (B2R) app followed by the TSY session. Heart rate (HR) and perceived stress were measured at baseline and after both the DB practice and the TSY session. We assessed Yoga and DB expectancies at baseline and post TSY. Participants also rated the acceptability and usability of the B2R app. Results of linear mixed effects regression models showed decreases in HR and perceived stress, compared to baseline, following DB (HR, b = -8.68, CI 95% = -13.34, -4.02; perceived stress, b = -1.77, CI 95% = -2.35, -1.18) and TSY (HR, b = -12.44, CI 95% = -17.15, -7.73; perceived stress b = -3.69, CI 95% = -4.29, -3.08). Higher levels of expectancies, compared to lower levels, related to stronger decreases in HR and perceived stress, particularly after TSY. Overall, participants rated the B2R usability as high; virtually all participants reported that "most would learn to use the app quickly," and 76.6% reported that they would use it frequently.

Yoga as an adjunct treatment for the eating disorders: A qualitive enquiry of clinician perspectives

BACKGROUND

Yoga has been recognised as a beneficial adjunct for eating disorder (ED) treatment due to demonstrating positive effects on ED symptomology. Despite this, research exploring the perspectives of clinicians regarding the use of yoga for the spectrum of the EDs is limited. Consequently, this study utilised qualitative enquiry to explore the experiences and perspectives of clinicians regarding the implementation of yoga as an adjunct for ED treatment. This research examines how yoga may be safely applied for the EDs, to enhance ED treatment approaches and recovery.

METHODS

This study employed semi-structured interviews with 12-clincians with up to 20-years of experience working therapeutically with people with EDs. Participants were asked their perspectives on the benefits, risks, and adaptations for delivering safe and suitable yoga programs for the spectrum of EDs. Template thematic analysis was used.

RESULTS

Four distinct themes were identified. They included the (1) benefits of yoga, (2) risks associated with the practice, (3) recommendations for adapting yoga for this cohort, and (4) implementing yoga alongside current psychological treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians viewed yoga as a safe and suitable transdiagnostic treatment, with the potential to support individuals with a more holistic and sustained recovery model. Clinicians raised concerns that might arise with the use of yoga for this cohort, however, they also emphasised the ability for these to be mitigated with a series of key adaptations. Importantly, clinicians recommended that yoga is implemented and monitored alongside ED treatment to ensure its suitability and safety. Key barriers for implementing yoga as an adjunct treatment and future research directions are discussed. Recent research has explored the benefits of yoga for individuals with eating disorders (EDs). However, researchers have not yet interviewed clinicians who work with those with EDs regarding their views on using yoga for their clients. This study therefore interviewed 12 clinicians working with individuals with EDs, to obtain their views for using yoga as a therapeutic treatment for this group. Overall, clinicians viewed yoga as a safe and beneficial treatment for EDs. While some concerns were raised regarding the safety of yoga for this group, clinicians emphasised that these could be relieved by a series of key adaptations. This study offers unique insights into how yoga may be safely applied into the care for ED clients, to enhance their treatment approaches and recovery.

VHA Whole Health Services and Complementary and Integrative Health Therapies: a Gateway to Evidence-Based Mental Health Treatment

BACKGROUND

Engagement in evidence-based psychotherapy (EBP) among veterans with behavioral health conditions is often low. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is implementing a "Whole Health (WH)" system of care, to identify veteran personal health goals, align care with those goals, and offer services designed to engage and empower veterans to achieve well-being.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship between veteran WH utilization and subsequent engagement in EBP.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of VHA administrative records from 18 facilities implementing WH.

SUBJECTS

Veterans (n = 265,364) with a diagnosis of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and/or anxiety who had a mental healthcare encounter but no EBP use in fiscal year (FY) 2018. Among this cohort, 33,146 (12.5%) began using WH in FY2019.

MAIN MEASURES

We examined use of an EBP for depression, anxiety, and/or PTSD within 1 year of the index date of WH use compared to use of an EBP anytime during FY2019 for veterans not identified as using WH. We used multiple logistic regression to examine the association between veteran WH use and EBP engagement.

KEY RESULTS

Approximately 3.0% (n = 7,860) of the veterans in our overall cohort engaged in an EBP in the year following their index date. Controlling for key demographic, health, and utilization variables, WH users had 2.4 (95% CI: 2.2-2.5) times higher odds of engaging in an EBP the following year than those with no WH utilization. Associations between utilization of specific WH services (vs. no utilization of that service) and engagement in an EBP in the subsequent year ranged from 1.6 (95% CI: 1.0-2.6) to 3.5 (95% CI: 3.2-3.9) across the different types of WH services used.

CONCLUSIONS

WH use was associated with increased engagement in EBPs among veterans with depression, anxiety, and/or PTSD. Future interventions intended to promote veteran engagement in EBPs may benefit from leveraging WH services and therapies.

A scoping review of integrated yoga and psychological approaches for the treatment of eating disorders

BACKGROUND

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that significantly impact the social and economic burden of mental ill health in Australia. Best practice treatment for eating disorders includes a multi-axial approach, including medical, psychiatric, and psychological approaches. More recently, complementary and alternative therapy approaches, such as yoga, are used to support eating disorder recovery.

METHODS

This scoping review identified and examined current research exploring the use of yoga alongside psychological approaches for the treatment and management of eating disorders across the lifespan.

RESULTS

Results highlighted the lack of available research, with only four studies identified. Three of these studies piloted programs and identified promising results with a reduction of eating disorder symptomatology. However, these results remain tentative due to methodological limitations and the overall lack of available evidence. In the future, researchers are encouraged to clearly articulate the theoretical concepts that underpin their yoga programs and focus on adequately powered and designed trials, such as RCTs, to accurately compare treatment effects between interventions combining yoga with psychological interventions and standard psychological treatment. Qualitative enquiry is also recommended to provide further insights regarding what makes interventions successful.

CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence suggests further guidance and pragmatic recommendations to guide researchers and clinicians alike are required, ultimately improving outcomes for people experiencing an eating disorder across the lifespan.