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. 2013 Jul;55(Suppl 3):S379-84.
doi: 10.4103/0019-5545.116317.

Feasibility and efficacy of yoga as an add-on intervention in attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder: An exploratory study

V R Hariprasad  1 , R Arasappa, S Varambally, S Srinath, B N Gangadhar
Affiliations

Feasibility and efficacy of yoga as an add-on intervention in attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder: An exploratory study

V R Hariprasad et al. Indian J Psychiatry. 2013 Jul.

Abstract

Context: Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. Stimulant medication is frequently used in management, with significant adverse effects. There is a growing interest in complementary treatments like yoga.

Aims: To study the effects of yoga as a complementary therapy in children with moderate to severe ADHD.

Settings and design: The study was performed on children (consent was taken from parents) admitted in a child psychiatry unit using an open-label exploratory study.

Materials and methods: Children between 5 and 16 years of age diagnosed with ADHD and co-operative for yoga were included. Subjects with other serious psychiatric and medical illnesses were excluded. The participants were given yoga training daily during their in-patient stay. They were rated on Conners' abbreviated rating scale - (CARS), ADHD-rating scale-IV (ADHD - RS IV) and clinical global impression (CGI)-Severity, at the beginning of study, at discharge and subsequently at the end of 1(st), 2(nd) and 3(rd) month by a research associate not involved in yoga instruction. Paired t-test was employed to compare the means of scores between baseline and follow-ups.

Results: A total of 9 children (8 males, 1 female) were recruited into the study. All, but one were on medications. An average of 8 yoga training sessions was given to subjects. They were able to learn yoga reasonably well. There was a significant improvement in the ADHD symptoms as assessed on CARS (P-0.014), ADHD-RS IV (P=0.021) and CGI- S scales (P=0.004) at the time of discharge.

Keywords: Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder; children; inpatients; yoga.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The improvement in scores on four domains (Domain 1: Overall yoga performance ability and co-operation with the therapist, Domain 2: Yoga äsana performance (overall), Domain 3: Präëäyäma performance, Domain 4: Relaxation and Nädänusandhäna performance)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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