Impact of yoga on psychopathologies and quality of life in persons with HIV: A randomized controlled study

Abstract Background Evidence suggests that individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) often exhibit poor physical and mental health, which contributes to a reduced Quality of Life (QoL). Yoga is a form of alternative therapy that has positive influences on general health and QoL. Objectives This study examined the effects of yoga on i) anxiety, depression, and psychological well-being and ii) QoL among individuals with an HIV positive status. Methodology Sixty individuals with HIV-positive (aged 30–50 years) from rehabilitation centres across Bangalore were randomly assigned to the yoga intervention group (n = 30; 11 men) or the wait-listed control group (n = 30; 10 men). Participants in the yoga group underwent 8 weeks of intense yoga practice performed an hour a day for 5 days a week. The yoga practice consisted of physical postures, breathing practices, relaxation techniques, and meditation. Participants in the wait-listed control group followed their normal routine. Anxiety, fatigue, depression, and QoL were assessed twice for all subjects in each group – once at the start of the study to establish a baseline and once more at the end of the 2-month study period to assess any changes. Data analysis was performed on the assessments using SPSS software version 10. Results Between group analysis demonstrated that a significantly different reduction in anxiety (p  Conclusion This study indicates that yoga intervention appears to improve the psychological health and QoL of individuals who are HIV-positive. Therefore, based on these findings, yoga may be recommended as a complementary therapy to enhance conventional HIV care.