Compared to aerobic exercise , no short- or medium-term group differences in depression severity was found .
Higher short-term depression severity was found for yoga compared to electro-convulsive therapy ;  remission rates did not differ between groups .
No short-term group differences occurred when yoga was compared to antidepressant medication .
Conflicting evidence was found when yoga was compared to attention-control interventions , or when yoga as an add-on to antidepressant medication was compared to medication alone .
This review found some evidence for positive effects beyond placebo and comparable effects compared to evidence -based interventions .
BACKGROUND The purpose of this review was to investigate the efficacy and safety of yoga interventions in treating patients with major depressive disorder .
A Breathing-Based Meditation Intervention for Patients With Major Depressive Disorder Following Inadequate Response to Antidepressants: A Randomized Pilot Study.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate feasibility , efficacy , and tolerability of Sudarshan Kriya yoga ( SKY ) as an adjunctive intervention in patients with major depressive disorder ( MDD ) with inadequate response to antidepressant treatment . METHODS Patients with MDD ( defined by DSM-IV-TR ) who were depressed despite ≥ 8 weeks of antidepressant treatment were r and omized to SKY or a waitlist control ( delayed yoga ) arm for 8 weeks . The primary efficacy end point was change in 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale ( HDRS-17 ) total score from baseline to 2 months . The key secondary efficacy end points were change in Beck Depression Inventory ( BDI ) and Beck Anxiety Inventory ( BAI ) total scores . Analyses of the intent-to-treat ( ITT ) and completer sample were performed . The study was conducted at the University of Pennsylvania between October 2014 and December 2015 . RESULTS In the ITT sample ( n = 25 ) , the SKY arm ( n = 13 ) showed a greater improvement in HDRS-17 total score compared to waitlist control ( n = 12 ) ( -9.77 vs 0.50 , P = .0032 ) . SKY also showed greater reduction in BDI total score versus waitlist control ( -17.23 vs -1.75 , P = .0101 ) . Mean changes in BAI total score from baseline were significantly greater for SKY than waitlist ( ITT mean difference : -5.19 ; 95 % CI , -0.93 to -9.34 ; P = .0097 ; completer mean difference : -6.23 ; 95 % CI , -1.39 to -11.07 ; P = .0005 ) . No adverse events were reported . CONCLUSIONS Results of this r and omized , waitlist-controlled pilot study suggest the feasibility and promise of an adjunctive SKY-based intervention for patients with MDD who have not responded to antidepressants . TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Trials.gov identifier : NCT02616549
Compared to aerobic exercise , no short- or medium-term group differences in depression severity was found .
Higher short-term depression severity was found for yoga compared to electro-convulsive therapy ;  remission rates did not differ between groups .
No short-term group differences occurred when yoga was compared to antidepressant medication .
Conflicting evidence was found when yoga was compared to attention-control interventions , or when yoga as an add-on to antidepressant medication was compared to medication alone .
This review found some evidence for positive effects beyond placebo and comparable effects compared to evidence -based interventions .
BACKGROUND The purpose of this review was to investigate the efficacy and safety of yoga interventions in treating patients with major depressive disorder .