A Yoga and Compassion Meditation Program Reduces Stress in Familial Caregivers of Alzheimer's Disease Patients

• Autor(a) principal: Danucalov, Marcello Arias Dias [UNIFESP]
• Data de Publicação: 2013
• Outros Autores: Kozasa, Elisa Harumi [UNIFESP], Ribas, Káritas de Toledo, Galduróz, José Carlos Fernandes [UNIFESP], Garcia, Marcelo Csermak [UNIFESP], Verreschi, Ieda Therezinha do Nascimento [UNIFESP], Oliveira, Kelly Cristina de [UNIFESP], Oliveira, Leandro Romani de [UNIFESP], Leite, Jose Roberto [UNIFESP]
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNIFESP
• Texto Completo: https://repositorio.unifesp.br/handle/11600/35694; https://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/513149

Familial caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease exhibit reduced quality of life and increased stress levels. the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an 8-week yoga and compassion meditation program on the perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and salivary cortisol levels in familial caregivers. A total of 46 volunteers were randomly assigned to participate in a stress-reduction program for a 2-month period (yoga and compassion meditation program-YCMP group) (n = 25) or an untreated group for the same period of time (control group) (n = 21). the levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and morning salivary cortisol of the participants were measured before and after intervention. the groups were initially homogeneous; however, after intervention, the groups diverged significantly. the YCMP group exhibited a reduction of the stress (P < 0.05), anxiety (P < 0.000001), and depression (P < 0.00001) levels, as well as a reduction in the concentration of salivary cortisol (P < 0.05). Our study suggests that an 8-week yoga and compassion meditation program may offer an effective intervention for reducing perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and salivary cortisol in familial caregivers.