Yoga, Mindfulness and Cognitive Psychotherapy as Treatment for Stress and Burnout

Karolinska Institutet90 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to investigate if treatment with yoga or mindfulness has a more profound and longstanding effect on stress and burnout than treatment with cognitive psychotherapy alone.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Stress, Psychological Burnout, Professional Anxiety Depression

Interventions

YogaBEHAVIORAL

Participants in this intervention arm will practice yoga (physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation) \>= 5 times a week (twice in a supervised group and the rest on their own). Additionally, participants in this arm will practice various practical skills, such as how to plan a satisfactory day using their own definition of a satisfactory day. They will follow this schedule for 20 weeks.

Mindfulness based cog psychotherapyBEHAVIORAL

Participants in this arm will attend a weekly group meeting to practice mindfulness based cognitive psychotherapy. They will also practice \>= 4 time a week on their own. Additionally, participants in this arm will practice various practical skills, such as how to plan a satisfactory day using their own definition of a satisfactory day. Participants will follow this schedule for 20 weeks.

Cognitive psychotherapy

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 16 YearsMax age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * On sick leave at least 50% at the beginning of the study. * Sick leave for a maximum of 1 year if on full-time sick leave at the beginning of the study or for a maximum of 3 years if on part-time sick leave at the beginning of the study. * Speak Swedish well enough to participate in the study interventions. * Body mass index (BMI) of between 18 and 30. * Meet the diagnostic criteria for burnout syndrome from the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. Exclusion Criteria: * Medication, including all medication or topical skin preparations with cortisone in any form. Exceptions: Antidepressants, contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy for hypothyroidism if hormone levels were within the normal range, and hormone replacement therapy to treat menopausal symptoms. To receive an exception for medication, a participant had to take the same medication at the same dose at both blood tests.

Locations (1)

Karolinska Institutet

Stockholm, Huddinge, Sweden

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Reduced stress measured by qualitative questionnaires

Level of stress will be measured by qualitiative questionnaries, including the Swedish Health-Related Quality of Life Survey (SWEQUAL).

Time frame: 5 months after start of treatment

Secondary Outcomes

Reduced cortisol secretion

We will measure cortisol level in a 24-hour sample of urine.

Time frame: 5 months after start of treatment

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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