Reducing the symptomatology of panic disorder: the effects of a yoga program alone and in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy

Introduction: Yoga is a holistic system of different mind body practices that can be used to improve mental and physical health. It has been shown to reduce perceived stress and anxiety as well as improve mood and quality of life. Research documenting the therapeutic benefits of yoga has grown progr...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Camila Ferreira Vorkapic, Bernard eRangé
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2014-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00177/full
_version_ 1818296018159009792
author Camila Ferreira Vorkapic
Bernard eRangé
author_facet Camila Ferreira Vorkapic
Bernard eRangé
author_sort Camila Ferreira Vorkapic
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Yoga is a holistic system of different mind body practices that can be used to improve mental and physical health. It has been shown to reduce perceived stress and anxiety as well as improve mood and quality of life. Research documenting the therapeutic benefits of yoga has grown progressively for the past decades. Objectives: The primary goal of this study was to investigate the effects of yoga in patients suffering from panic disorder. We aimed at observing the efficacy of yoga techniques on reducing the symptomatology of panic disorder, compared to a combined intervention of yoga and psychotherapy. Method: Twenty subjects previously diagnosed with panic disorder were selected. Subjects were randomly assigned to both experimental groups: Group 1 (G1-Yoga: 10 subjects) attended yoga classes and Group 2 (G2-CBT + Yoga: 10 subjects) participated in a combined intervention of yoga practice followed by a cognitive behavioral therapy session. Subjects were evaluated two times during the study: pre-test and post-test. Psychometric tools included the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), The Panic Beliefs Inventory (PBI) and Body Sensations Questionnaire (BSQ). Results: Statistical analysis showed significant reductions in anxiety levels associated with panic disorder, panic-related beliefs and panic-related body sensations both in G1 and G2. However, the combination of yoga and cognitive behavioral therapy (G2) showed even further reductions in all observed parameters (mean values). Conclusion: This study observed significant improvement in panic symptomatology following both the practice of yoga and the combination of yoga and psychotherapy. While contemplative techniques such as yoga promote a general change in dealing with private events, CBT teaches how to modify irrational beliefs and cognitive distortions. This indicates that the techniques might have complemented each other, increasing the intervention efficacy.
first_indexed 2024-12-13T03:56:52Z
format Article
id doaj.art-d7512de47d084878a62ff020f1470961
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1664-0640
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-13T03:56:52Z
publishDate 2014-12-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Psychiatry
spelling doaj.art-d7512de47d084878a62ff020f14709612022-12-22T00:00:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402014-12-01510.3389/fpsyt.2014.00177117378Reducing the symptomatology of panic disorder: the effects of a yoga program alone and in combination with cognitive behavioral therapyCamila Ferreira Vorkapic0Bernard eRangé1Federal University of SergipeFederal University of Rio de JaneiroIntroduction: Yoga is a holistic system of different mind body practices that can be used to improve mental and physical health. It has been shown to reduce perceived stress and anxiety as well as improve mood and quality of life. Research documenting the therapeutic benefits of yoga has grown progressively for the past decades. Objectives: The primary goal of this study was to investigate the effects of yoga in patients suffering from panic disorder. We aimed at observing the efficacy of yoga techniques on reducing the symptomatology of panic disorder, compared to a combined intervention of yoga and psychotherapy. Method: Twenty subjects previously diagnosed with panic disorder were selected. Subjects were randomly assigned to both experimental groups: Group 1 (G1-Yoga: 10 subjects) attended yoga classes and Group 2 (G2-CBT + Yoga: 10 subjects) participated in a combined intervention of yoga practice followed by a cognitive behavioral therapy session. Subjects were evaluated two times during the study: pre-test and post-test. Psychometric tools included the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), The Panic Beliefs Inventory (PBI) and Body Sensations Questionnaire (BSQ). Results: Statistical analysis showed significant reductions in anxiety levels associated with panic disorder, panic-related beliefs and panic-related body sensations both in G1 and G2. However, the combination of yoga and cognitive behavioral therapy (G2) showed even further reductions in all observed parameters (mean values). Conclusion: This study observed significant improvement in panic symptomatology following both the practice of yoga and the combination of yoga and psychotherapy. While contemplative techniques such as yoga promote a general change in dealing with private events, CBT teaches how to modify irrational beliefs and cognitive distortions. This indicates that the techniques might have complemented each other, increasing the intervention efficacy.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00177/fullAnxietyPanic DisorderYogacognitive behavioral therapycontemplative practice
spellingShingle Camila Ferreira Vorkapic
Bernard eRangé
Reducing the symptomatology of panic disorder: the effects of a yoga program alone and in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Anxiety
Panic Disorder
Yoga
cognitive behavioral therapy
contemplative practice
title Reducing the symptomatology of panic disorder: the effects of a yoga program alone and in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy
title_full Reducing the symptomatology of panic disorder: the effects of a yoga program alone and in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy
title_fullStr Reducing the symptomatology of panic disorder: the effects of a yoga program alone and in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy
title_full_unstemmed Reducing the symptomatology of panic disorder: the effects of a yoga program alone and in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy
title_short Reducing the symptomatology of panic disorder: the effects of a yoga program alone and in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy
title_sort reducing the symptomatology of panic disorder the effects of a yoga program alone and in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy
topic Anxiety
Panic Disorder
Yoga
cognitive behavioral therapy
contemplative practice
url http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00177/full
work_keys_str_mv AT camilaferreiravorkapic reducingthesymptomatologyofpanicdisordertheeffectsofayogaprogramaloneandincombinationwithcognitivebehavioraltherapy
AT bernarderange reducingthesymptomatologyofpanicdisordertheeffectsofayogaprogramaloneandincombinationwithcognitivebehavioraltherapy