DEPRESSION, MOOD-DISTURBANCE and Tai Chi & qigong
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DEPRESSION:

Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on the Physical and Mental Health of the Elderly: A Systematic Review
Conclusion: Tai Chi chuan has a potential effect on the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of COVID-19. Its potential mechanisms include reducing anxiety, relieving depression and stress, enhancing pulmonary and cardiovascular function, enhancing immunity and improving quality of life.
-- PHYSICAL ACTIVITY and HEALTH (PAAH)



Tai chi significantly reduces depression symptoms in Chinese-Americans ...
pilot study conducted by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry enrolled members of Boston's Chinese community who had mild to moderate depression ...

The 12-week assessments showed that the tai chi group had significantly greater improvement in depression symptoms than did members of either control group. Follow-up assessment at 24 weeks showed sustained improvement among the tai chi group, with statistically significant differences remaining compared with the waitlist group.
-- SCIENCE DAILY




Is Tai Chi good for mental health?
When learned correctly and performed regularly, tai chi can be a positive part of an overall approach to improving your health. The benefits of tai chi may include: Decreased stress, anxiety and depression. Improved mood.
-- MAYO CLINIC


How does tai chi help with anxiety?
Tai chi may help improve your mood if you are depressed or anxious. Preliminary research suggests that regularly practicing tai chi can reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression. It's believed that the slow, mindful breaths and movements have a positive effect on the nervous system and mood-regulating hormones.
-- HEALTHLINE.com


Does Tai Chi help sleep?
Tai Chi significantly improved sleep quality in both healthy adults and patients with chronic health conditions, which suggests that Tai Chi may be considered as an alternative behavioral therapy in the treatment of insomnia.
-- NIH (National Institutes of Health)


Tai Chi on psychological well-being: systematic review and meta-analysis ...
Conclusions
In conclusion, the results of these studies suggest that Tai Chi may be associated with improvements in psychological well-being including reduced stress, anxiety, depression and mood disturbance, and increased self-esteem. High-quality, rigorous, prospective, well-controlled randomized trials with appropriate comparison groups and validated outcome measures are needed to further understand the effects of Tai Chi as an intervention for specific psychological conditions in different populations. Knowledge about the physiological and psychological effects of Tai Chi exercise may lead to new complementary and alternative medical approaches to promote health, treat chronic medical conditions, better inform clinical decisions and further explicate the mechanisms of successful mind-body medicine.
-- BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies


Tai Chi Soothes Depression ...
MORE THAN 2-MILLION PEOPLE AGE 65 AND OLDER suffer from depression, including 50 percent of those living in nursing homes. The suicide rate among white men over 85 is the highest in the country.

How to help elderly depressed individuals?
Researchers at UCLA turned to a gentle, Westernized version of tai chi chih, a 2,000-year-old Chinese martial art ... [the study] looked at 112 adults age 60 or older with major depression. The participants were treated with the drug escitalopram, a standard antidepressant, for approximately four weeks, and 73 participants who showed only partial improvement continued to receive the medication daily but were also randomly assigned to 10 weeks of either a tai chi class or a health-education class for two hours per week each.

While both groups showed improvement in the severity of depression, greater reductions were seen among those taking escitalopram and participating in tai chi, Dr. Lavretsky says.
-- UCLA Health.org


The Effects of Tai Chi on Depression, Anxiety, and Psychological Well-Being: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis ...
The studies in this review demonstrated that tai chi interventions have beneficial effects for various populations on a range of psychological well-being measures, including depression, anxiety, general stress management, and exercise self-efficacy.
-- RESEARCH GATE.net


New research indicates that practicing tai chi can be an effective remedy for reducing symptoms for depression. The study was carried out by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, who ran participants through a 12-week training course ...
Co-author Albert Yeung, a Harvard psychiatry professor who also works in the Depression Clinical and Research Program in the hospital’s psychiatry department, explains that unlike previous research, the current study primarily focused on how tai chi effects diagnosed patients who suffer from depression.
Read entire article at: StudyFindings.org


Do you think Tai Chi decreases depressive symptoms?
Tai Chi Is a Biological Treatment for Depression ...
Participants in the Tai Chi Chih group were more likely to have reductions in depression symptoms and to experience depression remission. They also had greater improvement of physical functioning, and they performed better on cognitive tests.
-- PSYCHIATRIC TIMES


Anxiety/Depression. A growing number of studies support the positive impact of Tai Chi on many aspects of psychological well-being. Dr. Chenchen Wang of Tufts University School of Medicine identified 40 studies conducted both in the West and in China that included an evaluation of Tai Chi for psychological outcomes. ... The review concluded that Tai Chi appears to be associated with improvements in stress, anxiety, depression, mood, and increased self-esteem. (Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi. Page 206.)
Read more at Harvard Health Publications ...


What are the Health Benefits of Tai Chi?
Tai chi is a noncompetitive martial art known for both its defense techniques and its health benefits. As an exercise, it comprises gentle physical exercise and stretching with mindfulness.

It has been shown to improve balance control, fitness, and flexibility, and to reduce the risk of falls in older people. It appears to reduce pain and the symptoms of depression.
-- Medical News Today, 2016


Tai chi augments pharmaceutical treatment of depression in seniors ...
Compared to the health education and escitalopram group, the tai chi and escitalopram group showed a greater reduction in depressive symptoms, improved physical functioning, improved scores on cognitive tests and a decline in inflammatory markers.
-- Tai Chi Research


Meta-Analysis Study by Japan Geriatrics Society finds Tai Chi Reduces Depression ...
Tai chi and reduction of depressive symptoms for older adults: A meta-analysis of randomized trials

Depression is a significant mental health problem. Worldwide, depression ranks second only to heart disease in terms of impact on disability-adjusted life years ...
Conclusion:
Based on the results, we can conclude that tai chi is effective in decreasing self-reported depression compared with a waiting list control.
Japan Geriatrics Society, published in Geriatrics Gerontology International, June, 2012
Read entire article at Wiley Online Library



Chinese Martial Art Helps Fight Depression ...
The study found that compared with taking the health education class (which included some stretching exercises), performing the ancient Chinese mind-body exercise of tai chi while taking escitalopram helped more adults reduce their depressive symptoms and achieve remission; it also improved quality of life, memory, cognition and overall energy levels. “This is the first study to demonstrate the benefits of tai chi in the management of late-life depression, and we were encouraged by the results,” said Lavretsky in a press statement. “With tai chi, we may be able to treat these conditions without exposing [patients] to additional medications.”
-- TIME MAGAZINE




Chinese Martial Art Improves Depression in Aged people ...
at UCLA. Researchers claim that these classes improve levels of depression as well as quality of life, better memory and cognition
-- TopNews NZ




Tai Chi can relieve depression and boost self-esteem, new research shows ...
Researchers looked at the results of 40 studies on the effects of the martial art.  They found that it did have positive psychological effects, but called for more thorough research.
-- Telegraph UK News, 21 May, 2010




In a systematic review of the subject, Dr. Chenchen Wang, Associate Professor, from Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Massachusetts, USA, worked with a team of researchers to pool the results of 40 studies, including 17 randomized controlled trials, into the mental health effects of Tai Chi.
...The researchers found that practicing Tai Chi was associated with reduced stress, anxiety, depression and mood disturbance, and increased self-esteem.
-- Thai Indian News, 21 May, 2010



Tai Chi May Relieve Anxiety and Depression ...
The healing power of this martial art may lie in combining movement, meditation and breathing exercises.

While there are few studies on the effects of tai chi (t'ai chi ch'uan) on reducing anxiety and depression, those there are suggest that it could be beneficial, especially among the elderly.

What evidence there is suggests that the benefits of tai chi extend beyond those of simply exercising. The combination of exercise, meditation, and breathing all may help relieve anxiety and depression, according to this Donal P. O'Mathuna, Ph.D., a lecturer in Health Care Ethics at the School of Nursing in Dublin City University, Ireland.
-- PREVENTION MAGAZINE



Alternative Therapies Can Be Safe, Effective For Children ...
"There is a huge place for complementary and alternative medicine in pediatrics," says Dolores Mendelow, M.D., clinical assistant professor of pediatrics and communicable diseases at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Complementary and alternative therapies are becoming a more prevalent treatment for children. If individuals follow the directions of their physicians, these treatments are a safe and effective way to get and stay healthy, Mendelow says.

Tai chi. Research shows teenagers encounter a lot of stress, which puts them at risk for depression. Mind and body therapies, such as tai chi, help reduce the risk of depression and anxiety. Tai chi and yoga help to decrease blood pressure and sympathetic activity in children. This allows for a sense of relaxation and calmness.
-- Au.Sys-Con.com



DEPRESSION & MOOD DISTURBANCE. Regular (daily) T'ai Chi practitioners usually find less incidence of depression and overall mood disturbance.
Relative to measurement beforehand, practice of Tai Chi raised heart rate, increased nonadrenaline excretion in urine, and decreased salivary cortisol concentration. Relative to baseline levels, [Test Subjects] reported less tension, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion and state-anxiety; they felt more vigorous, and in general they had less total mood disturbance.
-- American Psychological Association) Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 1989 Vol 33 (2) 197-206

 


FIND MUCH MORE RESEARCH AT THE "QIGONG INSTITUTE DATABASE"
Since 1984, collecting breaking medical/science research on Qigong, Tai Chi, Yoga, and Mind-Body Education
Click here  for Qigong Institute Database...



YOGA
The Effect of Yoga on Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in Women
Discussion
The present study showed that 12 sessions of intervention as regular hatha yoga exercise significantly reduced stress, anxiety, and depression in women.
-- NIH (National Institutes of Health)


Just what the doctor ordered: Take a yoga class and depression, anxiety improve ...
Scientific studies already support yoga practice as a means to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Now a new study out of Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) provides evidence that yoga and breathing exercises can improve symptoms of depression and anxiety in both the short term -- with each session as well as cumulatively in the longer term, over three months.
-- SCIENCE DAILY


Is yoga good for depression?
According to the Harvard Mental Health Letter, recent studies suggest that yoga can:
reduce the impact of stress
help with anxiety and depression
be a self-soothing technique similar to meditation, relaxation, and exercise
improve energy

Yoga is a gentle exercise that incorporates both meditation and controlled, physical movements. The focus on deep breathing and stretching your body is effective for relieving the symptoms of depression, such as sleep troubles, pain, and a loss of energy.
-- HEALTHLINE.com





The Efficacy of Yoga as a Form of Treatment for Depression
Conclusions
Yoga is a fairly new treatment or practice utilized for more than mind-body fitness in the West. In fact, yoga is being used more and more as an alternative form of treatment for improving many conditions. One way that yoga is used is in individuals with depressive symptoms. Recently, researchers have examined the benefits and effectiveness of depression for managing depressive symptoms. This review reveals that yoga provides limited evidence that a restricted number of studies (those published between 2011 and 2015) may influence depression outcomes in various populations. Many more interventions on the subject area are needed to continue to learn and understand fully the impact of yoga and depression.
-- NIH (National Institutes of Health)




LifeForceYoga's Yoga/Depression page has a list of links to research on the below subjects:
* Study of Yoga for Depression Finds Benefits Not Instant, but May Accumulate
* LifeForceYoga Nidra Depression Study Final 2014
* Claiming Peaceful Embodiment Through Yoga in the Aftermath of Trauma
* Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effects of Gentle Hatha Yoga for Women With Major Depression
* Initial Evaluation of the LifeForce Yoga Program as a Therapeutic Intervention for Depression
* Yoga at the Intersection of Research
* The Acute Effects of Yoga on Executive Function
* Neurohemodynamic correlates of ‘OM’ chanting
* How Might Yoga Help Depression? A Neurobiological Perspective
* The Effects of Meditation on Perceived Stress and Related Indices of Psychological Status and Sympathetic Activation in Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and Their Caregivers: A Pilot Study
* The Effects of a Gentle Yoga Program on Sleep,Mood, and Blood Pressure in OlderWomen with Restless Legs Syndrome: A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial
* Thinking Through the Body: The Conceptualization of Yoga as Therapy for Individuals with Eating Disorders
* Effects of yoga on the autonomic nervous system, gamma-aminobutyric-acid, and allostasis in epilepsy, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder
* Healing Childhood Sexual Abuse with Yoga
* The Role of Outcome-Based Standards in Yoga Therapy
* Mindfulness Intervention for Child Abuse Survivors
Click for links to research




MINDFULNESS / MEDITATION
Mindfulness Research at The Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology ...
Clinical evidence suggests that mindfulness meditation reduces anxiety, depression, and stress, and improves emotion regulation due to modulation of activity in neural substrates linked to the regulation of emotions and social preferences ...
The results imply high context modularity of human altruism and the development of intervention approaches including mindfulness meditation to increase social cooperation, especially among subjects with low baseline willingness to contribute ...
-- UCLA HEALTH



Nothing worked for my depression — until I tried meditation ...
... I decided to try meditation when pharmaceuticals let me down. A growing body of research supported the use of mindfulness techniques for preventing a depression relapse, and a friend of mine who battled anxiety had found relief through the practice ...
Soon, I realized I wasn’t having these [negative] thought loops at all. I was taking back control of my mind, and by extension, my mood.

This breakthrough was huge. I had been clinically depressed for more than 15 years. I thought this disorder would last forever. No one had ever suggested that I could change these thought patterns that made me worried and anxious.

Meditation “kind of shows us how to step back from that thinking and that feeling and to actually witness it,” said Puddicombe, co-founder of Headspace.
-- WASHINGTON POST




Meditation effective in treating anxiety, depression, Hopkins research suggests ...
... published online Jan. 6 in JAMA Internal Medicine. According to Goyal's research, "meditation appeared to provide as much relief from some anxiety and depression symptoms as … antidepressants." In other words, Goyal's research suggests that daily mindfulness-based meditation might be able to reduce depression as effectively as some pharmaceutical drugs ...
-- JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY




How meditation helps with depression ...
A regular practice can help your brain better manage stress and anxiety that can trigger depression ...
There are many ways to treat depression. Antidepressants and psychotherapy are the usual first-line treatments, but ongoing research has suggested that a regular meditation practice can help by changing how the brain responds to stress and anxiety.
-- HARVARD HEALTH PUBLISHING



When Science Meets Mindfulness ...
Researchers study how it seems to change the brain in depressed patients ...
Studies have shown [Mindfulness Meditation] benefits against an array of conditions both physical and mental, including irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, psoriasis, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder ...
-- THE HARVARD GAZETTE




Meditation Won’t Cure Your Depression, but It Can Be a Big Help ...
... it’s backed by promising research
According to 2016 researchTrusted Source, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, an approach to psychotherapy that incorporates mindfulness meditation practices, can help lower your chances of depression relapse.

Other recent researchTrusted Source suggests meditation practices can help improve depression symptoms when you continue to incorporate them into your life. In other words, it may have more benefits as a continued practice than a temporary fix.

You’ve probably heard exercise helps relieve depression symptoms. While there’s certainly researchTrusted Source to support that finding, a 2017 studyTrusted Source of 181 nursing students found evidence to suggest meditation could have even more benefit for managing depression.
Click for LINKS to above research at HEALTHLINE.com







* NOTE: World Tai Chi & Qigong Day advises consulting your physician before beginning any new exercise, herbal, diet, or health program. The research listed here is meant to stimulate a discussion between you and your physician, health insurance carrier, etc., not as medical advise. Research and comments provided here are hoped to stimulate a more robust discussion of powerful natural mind/body health tools. Popular media, health media, and government must increase attention to stunning emerging research, including the UCLA study indicating Tai Chi participants enjoyed a 50% increase in immune system resistance to viral infection.