Study on the effect of breathing exercises on PTSD & depression

T. Descilo et al.

March 2010

Burn-out prevention / prophylaxis

The Indian-American study investigated the effect of yoga breathing exercises on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in survivors of mass disasters.

The sample consisted of 183 survivors of the 2004 Asian tsunami who scored 50 or higher on the PCL-17 PTSD checklist.

The subjects were divided into three groups: One was prescribed yoga breathing exercises, another was prescribed yoga breathing exercises followed by a three- to eight-hour exposure procedure for trauma treatment, and the third group was placed on the waiting list for six weeks.

PCL-17 and BDI-21 were measured at the beginning of the study, after six, twelve and 24 weeks and analyzed using ANOVA.

After six weeks, the results showed significant differences between the three groups.

The study was able to prove that yoga breathing exercises can alleviate psychological stress after mass disasters and depression and that the body and brain can be calmed by breathing correctly.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: PTSD, depression
Institution: The Trauma Resolution Center of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
Title: Study on the effect of breathing exercises on PTSD & depression
Brief description: A study shows that yoga breathing exercises significantly alleviate PTSD and depression in survivors of mass disasters.
Original title: Effects of a yoga breath intervention alone and in combination with an exposure therapy for post‐traumatic stress disorder and depression in survivors of the 2004 South‐East Asia tsunami
Link to the study: https://www.scilit.com/publications/0ec2d2c631b08c52a2ed5b4ea7864773