Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Interventions and Posttraumatic Stress and Depression Outcomes Among Women: A Systematic Review and Analysis of Randomized Control Trials

Abstract Research shows that most people experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetimes, and between 6% and 8% of those with a history of trauma will develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or related mental health conditions. Women face a greater threat of trauma exposure and have a higher risk of PTSD and depression than men. Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TSY), a body-based adjunctive therapy, has shown potential in several studies as an effective method for reducing PTSD and depression symptoms. However, existing research and systematic reviews vary widely in their methodological rigor and comparison samples. Thus, in this systematic review we examined the effectiveness of TSY among women with a history of trauma and depression who had participated in randomized control trials with clear control and experimental groups. Findings in fixed- and mixed-effects meta-analysis models suggest marginally significant to no effects of TSY on PTSD and depression outcomes. Our systematic review highlights critical questions and significant gaps in the existing literature about the rationale and best practices of TSY intervention duration.