Effect of holistic yoga program on anxiety symptoms in adolescent girls with polycystic ovarian syndrome: A randomized control trial.

CONTEXT: Yoga techniques practiced for varying durations have been shown to reduce state anxiety. This was never assessed in adolescents with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

AIMS: To compare the effect of a holistic yoga program with the conventional exercise program on anxiety level in adolescents with PCOS.

SETTINGS AND

DESIGN

Ninety adolescent (15-18 years) girls from a residential college in Andhra Pradesh, who satisfied the Rotterdam criteria, were randomized into two groups.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Anxiety levels were assessed at inclusion and after 12 weeks of intervention wherein yoga group practiced a holistic yoga module while the control group practiced a matching set of physical exercises (1 h/day, for 12 weeks).

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare difference scores (delta change) between the two groups

RESULTS

Changes in state anxiety after the intervention were nonsignificantly different between the two groups (P=0.243), while changes after the intervention were significantly different between the two groups (P=0.002) for trait anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS

Twelve weeks of a holistic yoga program in adolescents with PCOS is significantly better than physical exercise program in reducing anxiety symptoms.