Yoga Practice on Major Depression in Adult Females Essay -- Psycholo

The National Institute of Mental Health cites findings from a 2005 study that depression affected 6.7% of adults in the United States (2005). The majority of adults affected were between the ages of eighteen and sixty, and more women than men exhibited symptoms of major depression (NIMH 2005). Various antidepressant medications are advertised via television commercials, but I wondered if alternate treatments were available, and if so, how effective those treatments might be. I am currently enrolled in a Yoga class, and I have found that this focused practice results not only in the relaxation of my body, but also in the clarity of my mind. I was curious if regular, consistent Yoga practice could have a beneficial effect on women who suffer from depression. A study conducted in 2007 examined the effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, or MBCT, on adults afflicted with chronic depression (Barnhofer et al., 2009). This approach incorporated meditation with cognitive therapy, in which participants learn how to navigate negative experiences and emotions (Barnhofer et al., 2009). The researchers used a combination of surveys and psychological interviews to evaluate each potential participant’s level of depression, and those who were selected participated not only in group sessions, but they were also provided with literature to guide them in individual practice (Barnhofer et al., 2009). Through the use of additional surveys and follow up interviews, Barnhofer and his colleagues found that Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy was effective at decreasing symptoms of major depression (2009). Another study conducted in Japan attempted to determine if consistent Yoga practice benefitted one’s mental health. This study focused on ... ... the scientific process in both designing and carrying out my experimental study regarding the effects of consistent Yoga practice on adult females with depression symptoms. Works Cited Barnhofer, T., Crane, C., Hargus, E., Amarasinghe, M., Winder, R., & Williams, J.M.G. (2009). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as a treatment for chronic depression: A preliminary study. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 47(5). Retrieved from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005796709000333 Yoshihara, K., Hiramoto, T., Sudo, N., & Kubo, C. (2011). Profile of mood states and stress-related biochemical indices in long-term yoga practitioners. BioPsychoSocial Medicine, 5(6). doi: 10.1186/1751-0759-5-6 National Institute of Mental Health (2005, June). Major Depressive Disorder Among Adults. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/1MDD_ADULT.shtml