Comparing Behavior Therapy and Yoga for Treating Depression Among Adults

NCT ID: NCT05546697

Last Updated: 2025-11-05

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 518 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-02-13
• Study Completion Date: 2026-05-01

Brief Summary

This is a parallel group study design. The investigators propose to compare an online, synchronous group-based yoga intervention developed for individuals with depression to an online, synchronous individualized, evidence-based behavioral therapy for depression, or Brief Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression (BA). This study is a multi-site randomized trial of adults with clinically significant depressive symptoms. Participants (N=518) will be randomized in an equal allocation ratio (i.e., 1:1) across two intervention groups: yoga and BA. Interventions will be provided over a 12-week period and assessments will occur at baseline (week 0), week 6, week 12, week 18, and week 24.

Detailed Description

The first goal of the proposed research is to determine whether a hatha yoga program for depression is non-inferior to BA in reducing depressive symptoms over a 6-month period.

Our second goal is to identify individual-level characteristics that predict heterogeneity of treatment effect (HTE) to develop guidance for matching patients to the optimal depression treatment.

Sample- Our sample will be representative of the target population: individuals with depression. There are several aspects of the current study design that the investigators believe will enhance recruitment in diverse patient populations.

• Both study interventions will be offered via telehealth to reduce barriers to access (e.g., childcare, time, parking/transportation costs, less time out of work).
• The investigators have study funds to cover the costs of the technology for people who do not have a device or home-based internet access. Further, to decrease barriers related to digital literacy, study staff will be proactive about assisting participants with setting up technology, using technology and troubleshooting if needed.
• The investigators have study funds to pay for the BA therapists for participants who are uninsured.
• The investigators have study funds to offer the yoga intervention free of charge to participants.
• The investigators will offer study participation to Spanish-speakers.
• The investigators have an Advisory Board of stakeholders with diverse backgrounds (i.e., racially and ethnically diverse as well as diversity in socioeconomic status, educational background, and clinical features) to assist with the implementation and oversight of this study.

Participants will be paid for completing study assessments, they will not be compensated for attending study intervention sessions.

Assessments occur at Baseline (week 0, prior to randomization), and weeks 6, 12, 18, and 24. All self-report assessments will be available in English or Spanish. When an assessment is due, participants will be sent an automated link to complete the assessments via REDCap. In addition, they will receive reminders if they do not complete the assessment, and, if needed, follow-up phone calls from study staff. It is expected that the assessments at Weeks 0 (baseline) and 24 (end of treatment) will take approximately 45 min to complete, at Week 12 will take approximately 30 min to complete and at Weeks 6 and 18 will take approximately 20 min to complete.

Conditions

Depression

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Yoga-based Intervention

Yoga classes will be gentle and physically accessible for people who are naïve to yoga. Teachers will frequently guide participants to focus on their breathing and coordinate movements with breath. Teachers will offer variations on the postures and encourage participants to choose variations that provide some challenge but do not cause strain or pain. Classes will be 1 hour long and include a brief sitting meditation, warm-ups, standing postures, and a final resting meditation. All participants will be invited to attend a synchronous yoga class via a HIPAA-compliant videoconference option once per week during the first 3 months of the study. Classes will be offered at multiple times throughout the week.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Online- Yoga-based Intervetion

Intervention Type: OTHER

See arms description

Behavioral Activation

The goal of Behavioral Activation Psychotherapy is to help people identify and (re)engage in meaningful and positive activities through psychoeducation, identification of values and associated activities, goal setting, problem-solving, and monitoring of goal completion. There will be a BA manual for therapists and training provided by study staff on the manual (e.g., asynchronous and synchronous training sessions). BA therapists will be community clinicians. BA will be provided individually via telehealth and will be billed to participant insurance. At the start of BA treatment, participants will be oriented to the time-limited nature of BA, with the expectation that they will attend 8 sessions over the course of 3 months.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Online- BA

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

See arms description

Interventions

Online- Yoga-based Intervetion

See arms description

Intervention Type: OTHER

Online- BA

See arms description

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Aged 18 years old or older

2. Depressive symptoms at study entry (PHQ-9≥10)

3. Provides informed consent

4. Able to read and understand English or Spanish.

5. Live in NC, MA, MN, or RI

6. Has a healthcare provider (a primary care provider, clinic, or mental health care provider) whom the participant could contact if medical care were needed

Exclusion Criteria

1. PHQ-9 > 20

2. A bone fracture or joint surgery in the past 6 months

3. Unable to walk

4. Severe heart failure or lung disease

5. Had a healthcare provider tell them it is unsafe to exercise

6. Currently pregnant

7. Are already engaged in study interventions (i.e., engaged in yoga practice or psychotherapy more than once in the past 4 weeks or has an intake scheduled for psychotherapy in the next 4 weeks).

8. Have active suicidal thinking (i.e., PHQ-9 item 9 ≥1 and a positive response to CSSR-S screener items 3, 4, 5, or 6 [Past 3 months])

9. Are currently experiencing manic symptoms (Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale score ≥ 6)

10. Unable to complete study procedures (i.e., attend yoga classes, BA sessions)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Butler Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Medical University of South Carolina

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Brown University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Massachusetts General Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Louisa Grandin Sylvia

Associate Director

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Louisa Sylvia, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Massachusetts General Hospital

Lisa Uebelacker, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Butler Hospital

Locations

Giuliana Chau

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

2022P001701

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id