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A pilot randomized controlled trial comparing prenatal yoga to perinatal health education for antenatal depression

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Abstract

We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing a prenatal yoga intervention to perinatal-focused health education in pregnant women with depression. Findings document acceptability and feasibility of the yoga intervention: no yoga-related injuries were observed, instructors showed fidelity to the yoga manual, and women rated interventions as acceptable. Although improvements in depression were not statistically different between groups, they favored yoga. This study provides support for a larger scale RCT examining prenatal yoga to improve mood during pregnancy.

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Funding

This study was supported by NIH/NIMH grant no. R34 MH085053.

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Correspondence to Cynthia L. Battle.

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Uebelacker, L.A., Battle, C.L., Sutton, K.A. et al. A pilot randomized controlled trial comparing prenatal yoga to perinatal health education for antenatal depression. Arch Womens Ment Health 19, 543–547 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-015-0571-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-015-0571-7

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