Description of the 19 included trials
| First author, year | Location, setting | Diagnosis; diagnostic tool | Age (years) (mean (SD)) | % Women | Type | Duration and frequency | Home practice | Control | Outcome(s)/statistic | |
| Y | C | |||||||||
| Behere et al, 2011 n=6051 | India, psychiatric outpatients | Schizophrenia; psychiatrist interview | 31.3 (9.3) | 33.6 (9.9) | 67 | SVYASA yoga* | 60 min, 5× week for 12 weeks | Yes | WLC | PANSS; mean, SD |
| Buttner et al†, 2015 n=5739 | USA, community | Postpartum depression; SCID and HDRS (>12) | 29.8 (5.2) | 32.5 (4.8) | 100 | Vinyasa yoga‡ | 60 min, 2× week for 8 weeks | Yes | WLC | HDRS; mean, SD |
| Field et al†, 2013 n=9240 | USA, community | Prenatal depression; SCID | 24.4 (4.7) | 24.5 (5.0) | 100 | Yoga | 20 min, 1× week for 12 weeks | NS | Social support | CES-D, salivary cortisol; mean, SD |
| Field et al†, 2012 n=8441 | USA, community | Prenatal depression/dysthymia; SCID | – | – | 100 | Yoga | 20 min, 1× week for 12 weeks | NS | TAU/ massage | CES-D; mean, SD |
| Hallgren et al†, 2014 n=1856 | Sweden, outpatient | Alcohol dependence; DSM criteria | – | – | – | Yoga | 90 min, 1× week for 10 weeks | Yes | TAU | HAD-C; mean, SD |
| Ikai et al, 2014 n=5052 | Japan, outpatients | Schizophrenia F20-F25; ICD-10 | 53.5 (9.9) | 48.2 (12.3) | 34 | Hatha yoga§ | 60 min, 1× week for 8 weeks | No | TAU +walking group | PANSS, FBGL, cholesterol; mean, SD |
| Ikai et al, 2017 n=5653 | Japan, inpatients | Psychiatric disorders F0-F9; ICD-10 | 55.5 (11.4) | 55 (15.8) | 36 | Chair hatha yoga | 20 min, 2× week for 12 weeks | NS | TAU | PANSS, hand grip strength, lower limb endurance; mean, SD |
| Jindani et al†, 2015 n=8042 | USA, community | PTSD; PCL-17 (>57) | – | – | 88 | Kundalini yoga¶ | 90 min, 1× week for 8 weeks | Yes | WLC | DASS-21; mean, SD |
| Lin et al†, 2015 n=8554 | China, community | Psychosis; DSM-IV criteria | 23.8 (6.8) | 25.3 (8.1) | 100 | Integrated yoga therapy | 60 min, 3× week for 12 weeks | NS | WLC | CDS total, PANSS, Vo2 max; mean, SD |
| Mitchell et al†, 2012 n=2443 | USA, community | Prenatal depression; SCID | – | – | 100 | Yoga | 20 min, 2× week for 12 weeks | NS | Education | CES-D total; mean, SD |
| Prathikanti et al†, 2017 n=3845 | USA, community | Major depressive disorder; MINI and BDI (14-28) | 43.1 (15.2) | 43.8 (14.7) | 68 | Hatha yoga | 90 min, 2× week for 8 weeks | NS | Education | BDI; mean SD |
| Reinhardt et al, 2018 n=5145 | USA, military | PTSD; SCID-CT | 44.1 (14) | 46.6 (12.7) | 12 | Kripalu yoga** | 90 min, 2× week for 10 weeks | Yes | WLC | CAPS total; mean, SD |
| Sarubin et al, 2014 n=6055 | Germany, inpatient | Major depressive disorder; SCID | 37.3 (11.9) | 42.4 (12.9) | 28 | Hatha yoga | 60 min, 1× week for 5 weeks | TAU | HAM-D-21 | |
| Uebelacker et al†, 2017 n=12246 | USA, community | Major depressive disorder; DSM and SCID | 46.8 (12.3) | 46.2 (12.1) | 84 | Hatha yoga | 80 min, 1–2× week for 10 weeks | Yes | Healthy living workshop | QIDS, SF-20; mean change? |
| Uebelacker et al†, 2016 n=2047 | USA, community | Antenatal depression; SCID | 28.0 (5.9) | 28.9 (6.0) | 100 | Yoga | 75 min, 1× week for 9 weeks | Yes | Education | QIDS; mean, SD |
| Van der Kolk et al†, 2014 n=6449 | USA, community | PTSD; CAPS | 41.5 (12.2) | 44.3 (11.9) | 100 | Trauma informed yoga | 60 min, 1× week for 10 weeks | NS | Education | BDI; mean, SD |
| Varambally et al, 2012 n=8350 | India, outpatient | Schizophrenia; psychiatrist interview (DSM criteria) | 32.8 (10) | 33.6 (9.5) | 13 | Yogasana | 45 min, 6× week for 12 weeks | Yes | WLC | PANSS; median, IQR |
| Visceglia et al†, 2011 n=1819 | USA, inpatient | Schizophrenia (axis I or II); SCI-PANSS | 37.4 (13.7) | 48.1 (11.2) | 33 | Yoga therapy | 45 min, 2× week for 8 weeks | NS | WLC | PANSS Depression; mean, SD |
| Weinstock et al†, 2016 n=1848 | USA, community | Bipolar depression; SCID | 41.3 (14.3) | 33.6 (13.3) | 56 | Hatha yoga | 80 min, 2× week for 10 weeks | Yes | Bibliotherapy | QIDS; mean, SD |
N, sample size calculated as number of participants allocated to treatment intervention groups relevant to this study (eg, exercise group excluded from total).
*SVYASA (Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana) refers to the yoga practised from the University Research Institute influenced by Swami Vivekananda.
†Included in meta-analysis for depressive symptoms.
‡Vinyasa translates to 'to place (the body) in a special way'; postures are typically flowing and synchronised with breath.
§Any type of physical yoga practice.
¶Kundalini yoga focuses on awaking Kundalini energy through practices comprising gentle yoga postures, breathing techniques, meditation and chanting of mantras.
**Kripalu yoga is a gentle form of hatha yoga, with attention to modifying poses in a way that is best for your body.
BDI, Beck Depression Inventory; CAPS, Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5; CDS, Carroll Depression Scale; CES-D, Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression; DASS, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale; DSM, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders; FBGL, fasting blood glucose levels; HADC, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HAM-D/HDRS, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; ICD-10, International Classification of Diseases 10th edition; MINI, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview; NS, not stated; PANSS, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale ; PCL-17, PTSD checklist-17; PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder; QIDS, Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology; SCID, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5; SCID-CT, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5-Clinical Trials Version; SCI-PANSS, Structured Clinical Interview-Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale; SF-20, Short Form Health Survey; TAU, treatment as usual; WLC, waitlist control.