Comparing the Efficacy of Heated Yoga and Sauna as a Treatment for Depression
Massachusetts General Hospital
Summary
This project explores whether heated yoga, sauna, and a mindfulness app reduce depressive symptoms
Description
This is a parallel group study design. The investigators plan to enroll 120 adults who have at least moderate depression and will be randomized in an equal allocation ratio (i.e., 1:1:1) across three groups: heated yoga vs. sauna vs. a mindfulness app. The interventions will be provided over a 12-week period and assessments will occur at baseline (Week 0), mid-intervention (Weeks 4 \& 8), post-intervention (Week 12, primary outcome), and at a 4-week (Week 16). Then participants enter an optional 1-month choice intervention period with a post-assessment (Week 20).
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Subject Characteristics Inclusion Criteria: 1. adults (18-65 years old) 2. Ability to provide informed consent 3. English language proficiency 4. PHQ-9 score \> 10, indicating at least moderate depressive symptoms 21 5. Must have filled out the waiver for the community-based partners prior to enrolling in the study\* 6. Individuals of childbearing potential must use an acceptable form of birth control 7. (if applicable) willingness to keep psychiatric medications and psychotherapy stable throughout the course of the study 8. Must be able to access mindfulness app on a device (i.e., smartphon…
Interventions
- Behavioralheated yoga
12-weeks of twice weekly 90-min heated yoga classes in the community
- Behavioralsauna
12-weeks of twice weekly 40-min sauna sessions in the community
- Behavioralmindfulness app
12-weeks of 80-mins a week of a mindfulness app
Location
- Massachusetts General HospitalBoston, Massachusetts