Purpose

The integrity of interoceptive networks is linked to resilience against depressive symptoms, whereas degradation of these networks is linked to apathy and deficits in emotion processing. The goal of this study is to compare two major styles of yoga and cardiovascular exercise through a 10-week training program to promote interoceptive awareness. The researchers hypothesize that improvement in affective symptomatology will be correlated with better interoceptive development. Changes in mood related symptoms and interoception will be assessed at baseline, week 12 and week 14, in a cohort of adults aged 18-55.

Conditions

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 55 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  • 18-55 years of age - Have negative mood symptoms (depression, anxiety, stress) - Is healthy and independent enough in daily life to attend study classes

Exclusion Criteria

  • Pregnant women or women who are planning to become pregnant during the study period - History of structural brain disease, mass lesion, stroke, epilepsy - History of addictive disorder or significant substance abuse - Neurological disorders or reversible causes of dementia - Suicidality or history of psychosis - Currently attending regular yoga or aerobic exercise practice, or participated in more than 6 formal meditation, aerobic, or yoga classes in the past 12 months - Self-reported cognitive impairment and other disorders which may preclude safe participation in the program including acute major depression, bipolar or severe personality disorder

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Basic Science
Masking
Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Gentle Yoga Program
Program will meet twice a week for a 10-week period. Participants will be a part of gentle yoga sessions led by instructors specializing in the area.
  • Behavioral: Gentle Yoga Intervention
    10-week exercise program structured around gentle yoga practice.
Experimental
Rigorous Yoga Program
Program will meet twice a week for a 10-week period. Participants will be a part of rigorous yoga sessions led by instructors specializing in the area.
  • Behavioral: Rigorous Yoga Intervention
    10-week exercise program structured around rigorous yoga practice.
Experimental
Cardiovascular Exercise Program
Program will meet twice a week for a 10-week period. Participants will be a part of cardiovascular exercise sessions led by instructors specializing in the area.
  • Behavioral: Physical Exercise Intervention
    10-week exercise program structured around cardiovascular exercise.

More Details

Status
Completed
Sponsor
Massachusetts General Hospital

Study Contact

Detailed Description

A recent annual survey of U.S. college freshman has found consistently declining levels of emotional health over the past 25 years. Exposure to such stress can have profound longitudinal effects on well being, influencing risk for disease later in life. Physical exercise is linked to benefits across a variety of physical and psychological domains. While the affective and physiological consequences of exercise are well-documented, how they work to improve subjective well-being is unclear. It has been suggested that exercise promotes well-being by increasing interoception. The integrity of interoceptive networks is linked to resilience against depressive symptoms, whereas degradation of these networks is linked to apathy and deficits in emotion processing. The goal of this study is to compare two major styles of yoga and cardiovascular exercise through a 10-week training program to promote interoceptive awareness. The researchers hypothesize that improvement in affective symptomatology will be correlated with better interoceptive development. Changes in mood related symptoms and interoception will be assessed at baseline, week 12 and week 14, in a cohort of adults aged 18-55.

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.