Comparing 12-Month Outcomes for Group CBT Versus Group CBT Plus Yoga for Depression and Anxiety: a Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract

Emerging research shows yoga, a body-based mindfulness practice, appears to augment the benefits of transdiagnostic group CBT up to 3-month post-treatment, but less is known about longer-term outcomes. This mixed-methods study reports on 12-month findings of a pragmatic preference trial with adults (N = 59) diagnosed with depression or anxiety. It compares longer-term outcomes between adults who completed either a group CBT program or group CBT with an adjunct therapeutic yoga program. A fixed effects linear mixed model explored symptoms of depression and anxiety (DASS-21) between the groups at 12-month follow-up (CBT alone, n = 13; CBT+Yoga, n = 15). Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were also conducted (n = 20) to identify what practices were maintained at follow-up. At 12-month follow-up, participants in the combined CBT+Yoga group had sustained reductions in anxiety and depression, with significantly superior outcomes when compared to those receiving group CBT alone. Qualitative data suggested that therapeutic yoga enhanced longer-term access to CBT concepts and contributed to overall increases in positive feelings and actions. Therapeutic yoga as an adjunct to group CBT appears to augment the longer-term benefits of CBT with sustained therapeutic benefits at 12 months.