Key result
Sudarshan kriya yoga and cognitive processing therapy both significantly improved self-reported emotion regulation in US veterans with PTSD, while only yoga improved physiological emotion regulation.
Why the study?
Emotion regulation is a key process underlying PTSD, but little is known about how it changes with PTSD treatment.
Does Sudarshan kriya yoga improve emotion regulation and heart rate variability in US Veterans with PTSD compared to cognitive processing therapy?
Population
85 US Veterans with clinically significant PTSD symptoms (per protocol N = 59)
Comparison
Sudarshan kriya yoga vs cognitive processing therapy
Design
Secondary exploratory analyses of a non-inferiority randomised controlled trial
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Supports SKY for physiological emotion regulation benefits in veterans with PTSD; extends RCT evidence beyond self-report to HRV.
RCT (n=85)
Single-blind
Randomized
No
Does Sudarshan kriya yoga improve emotion regulation and heart rate variability in US Veterans with PTSD compared to cognitive processing therapy?
Standardized Mean Difference: 0.66
p-value: p=<0.001
A breathing-based yoga practice (SKY) improved both self-reported and physiological emotion regulation (HRV) in Veterans with PTSD, whereas cognitive processing therapy only improved self-reported emotion regulation.
A 2022 study conducted an RCT in Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (n=85). Sudarshan kriya yoga (SKY) vs. Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) was evaluated on Change in Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) Total score (Cohen's d = 0.66 (main effect of time), p=<0.001). Sudarshan kriya yoga and cognitive processing therapy both significantly improved self-reported emotion regulation in US veterans with PTSD, while only yoga improved physiological emotion regulation.
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