Positive Health Online

Abstract

COHEN and others, Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA, lcohen@mdanderson.org, have explored the effects of Tibetan yoga on psychological adjustment and sleep quality of patients with lymphoma.

Background

It has been found that stress-reduction programmes tailored to the needs of cancer patients help reduce the impact of treatment and improve their quality of life. Yoga is such a stress-reduction method.

Methodology

39 patients who were either being treated for lymphoma or had been within the last year were randomly allocated to treatment or waiting list. Patients in the treatment group participated in seven Tibetan yoga classes at weekly intervals. Patients in the waiting list group were offered the opportunity to participate in the classes at the end of the trial period. The Tibetan yoga practice of Tsa lung and Trul khor incorporated controlled breathing, visualization, mindfulness techniques, and gentle postures.

Results

Patients in the yoga group reported significantly better sleep at follow-up after 3 months than controls. This included better subjective sleep quality, faster sleep latency, longer sleep duration and less consumption of sleeping pills. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of intrusion, avoidance, anxiety, depression, or fatigue.

Conclusion

This Tibetan yoga programme seems feasible for cancer patients, and significantly improves sleep quality. However other psychological parameters appear to be unaffected.

References

Cohen L, Warnecke C, Fouladi RT, Rodriguez MA, Chaoul-Reich A. Psychological adjustment and sleep quality in a randomized trial of the effects of a Tibetan yoga intervention in patients with lymphoma. Cancer 100 (10): 2253-2260, May 15, 2004.