Effects of Integrated Yoga Intervention on Psychopathologies and Sleep Quality Among Professional Caregivers of Older Adults With Alzheimer's Disease: A Controlled Pilot Study.

CONTEXT: Providing care to patients suffering from chronic neurological problems is a stressful job. While providing care to the patients, professional caregivers experience various kinds of physical and mental challenges that affect their mental health and sleep. Yoga is a form of mind-body medicine shown to be an effective intervention in improving physical and mental health. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of an integrated yoga (IY) intervention on anxiety, depression, stress, and sleep quality among professional caregivers of older adults with Alzheimer's disease. SETTING: This study was conducted in an Alzheimer care institution located in Bangalore City in southern India. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were professional female caregivers of older adults with Alzheimer's disease. Participant age range was between 20 and 50 y (mean, 34 ± 8.4 y). A total of 30 participants were enrolled in the study. Seventeen participants followed IY intervention and 13 were considered in a wait-list group. INTERVENTION: Participants in the IY group received a structured IY intervention comprising yoga asanas, pranayama, meditation, and relaxation techniques, 1 h/d, 6 d/wk, for 1 mo. Participants in the wait-list control group followed their daily activities. OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood pressure, heart rate, anxiety, depression, stress, and sleep quality were assessed at baseline after 1 mo for both the groups. Data were analyzed with an appropriate statistical test using SPSS Version 16 software (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). RESULTS: The IY group showed significant improvement in heart rate, blood pressure, stress, depression, anxiety, and sleep quality after 1 mo compared with baseline. In contrast to the IY group, the wait-listed control group showed significant increase in anxiety, depression, and stress and significant decrease in sleep quality after 1 mo compared with baseline. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed the potential use of IY intervention in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. The study also suggests that IY improves sleep quality among professional caregivers. However, further studies using a randomized controlled trial method with a larger sample size and for a longer duration should be conducted to confirm the present findings.

Evaluation of Tools to Assess Symptoms and Symptom Severity in Patients With Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis.

A substantial portion of patients presenting to healthcare settings exhibit physical symptoms lacking clear, demonstrable organic causes. Accurate assessment of symptom severity is crucial for documenting outcomes and establishing treatment efficacy. This systematic review and narrative synthesis aims to provide researchers with insights into available and validated tools for assessing medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS). It involved comprehensive searches across electronic databases, including PubMed, Wiley, and Cochrane, adhering to PRISMA and COSMIN guidelines. The study comprised two phases: Phase 1 systematically reviewed tools for assessing MUPS symptoms and severity, while Phase 2 conducted a narrative synthesis of their measurement properties, focusing on validity and reliability. Out of 14,459 records, 191 articles were identified, leading to the recognition of 16 validated tools for assessing MUPS symptoms and severity. Most tools demonstrated excellent internal consistency and structural validity. However, the majority lacked cross-cultural validity. The choice of tools for the assessment of MUPS will assist clinicians and researchers in determining the severity of MUPS and developing a tailored treatment plan to improve the physical and psychological functioning of these patients.

Effect of cyclic meditation on anxiety and sleep quality in sailors on merchant ships-A quasi-experimental study.

Background: Sailors undergo anxiety and sleep disturbances due to prolonged journeys and the nature of their work on ships. Earlier studies indicate Cyclic Meditation (CM) being beneficial for managing anxiety and improving sleep quality. Thus, the current study was designed to investigate the effect of CM on anxiety and sleep quality among sailors. Materials and methods: Fifty sailors were assigned to experimental (n = 25) and control (n = 25) groups. The experimental group received 45 min of CM, 7 days a week for 3 weeks. Control group continued with their routine activities and were offered CM practice the following 3 weeks. Hamilton Anxiety Scale for anxiety (HAM-A) and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep along with blood pressure and pulse rate were taken at baseline and by the end of 3 weeks. Data were analyzed using Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance (RM ANOVA) for within and between group effects. Results: Significant differences were found between the groups following 3 weeks for all the variables. Experimental group demonstrated reduced anxiety (p < 0.001) and improved sleep (p < 0.001) along with improvements in blood pressure and pulse rate. The control group did not show any significant changes following 3 weeks. Conclusion: CM could be incorporated as a routine for sailors to manage their anxiety and improve sleep quality during the period on board ships.

Impact of workplace yoga on pain measures, mental health, sleep quality, and quality of life in female teachers with chronic musculoskeletal pain: A randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain conditions such as low back pain, knee pain and cervical pain are highly prevalent among female teachers. Chronic pain significantly affects the mental health, sleep and quality of life among teachers. OBJECTIVE: This study is intended to investigate the impact of a workplace yoga intervention on musculoskeletal pain, anxiety, depression, sleep, and quality of life (QoL) among female teachers who had chronic musculoskeletal pain. METHOD: Fifty female teachers aged between 25-55 years with chronic musculoskeletal pain were randomized to either the yoga group (n = 25) or the control group (n = 25). The yoga group received a 60-minute structured Integrated Yoga intervention (IY) four days a week for six consecutive weeks at school. The control group received no intervention. OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain intensity, anxiety, depression, stress, fatigue, self-compassion, sleep quality, and quality of life were assessed at the baseline and six weeks. RESULTS: A significant (p < 0.05) reduction in pain intensity and pain disability in the yoga group was observed after 6-week compared to baseline. Anxiety, depression, stress, sleep scores and fatigues also improved in the yoga group after six weeks. The control group showed no change. Post score comparison showed a significant difference between the groups for all the measures. CONCLUSION: Workplace yoga intervention is found to be effective in improving pain, pain disability, mental health, sleep quality among female teachers with chronic musculoskeletal pain. This study strongly recommends yoga for the prevention of work-related health issues and for the promotion of wellbeing among teachers.

Yogic Principles of Artha and Dana with Reference to Individual and Corporate Social Responsibility.

A key element of all the Indian systems of philosophy is self-realization, leading to Moksa. Yoga, a branch of Indian philosophy, describes the techniques to attain the goal of Kaivalya or Moksa. The Purusarthas, which are the foundation of human pursuits, combine the spiritual value of Moksa with Artha and Kama worldly requirements, governed by Dharma. Artha is the foundation for two purposes, according to Kautilya's Arthasastra: Dharma and Kama. In the absence of affluence and security at society or at the individual level, following ethics and fulfilling desires become difficult. Hardships rear evil and disgust, while affluence rears virtues and love. The Vedic and philosophical traditions advocate wise use of wealth - onself-improvement, economic commotion, and charitable giving (Dana). Rgveda mentions that whatever is given to others selflessly as Dana returns many times over (Rgveda: 1-8). Yoga also specifies the disciplines of Aparigraha (non-hoarding) and Asteya (non-stealing), a balancing act of striking an equilibrium between our desires and virtues. Human beings have one universal duty or Dharma, which is a virtue. By virtue is meant the cultivation of compassion for our fellow beings; an individual social responsibility (ISR) which means to share and coexist with all living beings including insects, animals, etc., If ISR becomes a way of life, then corporate social responsibility will occur by its very nature. Nature follows the principle of "Idam-na-mama" - "this is not mine; it is for collective well-being." The ocean, sun, stars, moon, wind, trees, etc., perform functions to give to other's welfare not for themselves.

Barriers in the path of yoga practice: An online survey.

CONTEXT: Clinical benefits of yoga have been well explored, but factors contributing to adherence to regular yoga practice are not well studied. AIMS: To study the factors influencing adherence to yoga practices on those participants who have completed 1-month Yoga Instructors' course from a yoga university. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Online survey was conducted on participants who had finished 1-month Yoga Instructors' course at a yoga university. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Online survey was conducted using Survey Monkey web portal with response rate of 42.5%. A total of 1355 participants were approached. Demographic items and a checklist of 21 items on a 5-point likert scale were prepared based on traditional yoga texts. A few items to assess modern lifestyle barriers were also included. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: One-sample proportion test with chi square statistics was used for analysis. RESULTS: Irregularity in lifestyle, family commitments, and occupational commitments are perceived as significant strong barriers. Dullness, excessive talking, strictly adhering to rules, laziness, physical and mental overexertion, fickleness and wandering of mind, unsteadiness of mind, procrastination, and oversleeping are considered as significant barriers of moderate nature. CONCLUSIONS: Modern lifestyle is the major challenge for yoga practitioners to adhere to regular practice of yoga. To address this, attention is required in strengthening the lifestyle management and the spiritual dimension of yoga practice as the spiritual component seems to be side-tracked.