Effect of yoga therapy on quality of life and depression in premenopausal nursing students with mastalgia: A randomized controlled trial with 6-month follow-up

Introduction: Mastalgia is a common problem and disturbs women′s reproductive lives. There is no known organic etiology for mastalgia and also no definitive treatment. Considering the impact of mastalgia on the quality of life (QoL), it appears that mind-body interventions such as yoga would play an important role. Yoga has shown a beneficial effect in reducing pain, anxiety, and depression, thereby improving the QoL. Objective: To compare the benefits of yoga with the physical activity in improving the QoL in nursing students with mastalgia. Materials and Methods: An institutional ethical committee approved this randomized active control trial (RCT) with a follow-up of 6 months on premenopausal women above 18 years with breast pain (pain score >2) of more than 3 months duration. Women already practicing yoga, on hormonal treatment, or diagnosed with malignancy were excluded. Eighty consenting nursing students were randomized into the yoga therapy or control (brisk walk) arm (for 12 weeks). QoL and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) questionnaires were administered prior to the intervention and 3 months and 6 months after the intervention. Results: RM-ANOVA group effect was significant in BDI, F (1, 67) = 2632.72, P (<0.001) and in overall QoL, F (1, 67) =6881.41, (P < 0.001). Post hoc test (paired sample t-test) showed better improvement in the yoga group (0-3 months, 0-6 months) in both QoL (P < 0.001) (in all the four domains) and depression scores (P < 0.001) compared to the control group. Conclusion: QoL and depression scores improved with yoga in nursing students with mastalgia.