Effect of Yoga in Chronic Insomnia
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Yoga-intervention, Stretching Exercises.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Chronic Insomnia. Basic parameters: 18 years — 65 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- India
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Effect of Yoga in Chronic Insomnia: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Overview
This study will evaluate the effect of the yoga in participants with chronic insomnia. The primary objective is to determine whether adding yoga to standard care improves insomnia severity, as measured by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), compared to standard care alone. The study will also assess changes in sleep architecture using polysomnography and examine dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep. Secondary objectives include evaluating the effects of yoga on stress biomarkers (salivary cortisol and salivary alpha-amylase) and on somatosensory information processing using quantitative sensory testing. These measures aim to explore possible mechanisms by which yoga may influence insomnia symptoms, including stress modulation and sensory processing changes. This assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial will enroll 72 participants aged 18-65 years diagnosed with chronic insomnia. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) Yoga + Standard Care (2) Stretching group + Standard Care (3) Standard Care alone. The yoga group and stretching group will receive an 8-week intervention (2 weeks supervised group sessions, followed by 6 weeks home practice with telemonitoring). Assessments will be performed at baseline, 2 weeks, and 8 weeks. The primary outcome is change in ISI score at 8 weeks. Secondary outcomes include polysomnographic measures, dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep, depression-anxiety-stress scores, daytime sleepiness, stress biomarker levels, and sensory thresholds
Detailed description
Chronic insomnia is a common sleep disorder characterized by difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or experiencing non-restorative sleep, despite adequate opportunity for sleep, with associated daytime impairment. Current treatments, such as pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), have limitations including side effects, limited accessibility, and adherence challenges.
Yoga, an ancient mind-body practice, incorporates postures, breathing exercises, and meditation, and may positively influence insomnia by modulating stress responses, improving autonomic regulation, and altering sensory processing. The Common Yoga Protocol, developed by the Ministry of AYUSH, is a structured regimen combining sustained postures, breath control, and meditation.
This randomized controlled trial will assess the effect of adding the yoga protocol to standard care in participants with chronic insomnia. The primary outcome is change in insomnia severity (ISI) after 8 weeks of the intervention. Secondary outcomes include changes in sleep architecture (polysomnography), dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep, mood and anxiety symptoms (DASS-21), daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), stress biomarkers (salivary cortisol, salivary alpha-amylase), and somatosensory information processing (quantitative sensory testing after 8 weeks of the intervention.
Seventy-two participants aged 18-65 years meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for chronic insomnia will be randomly assigned to one of three groups:
Yoga + Standard Care: Common Yoga Protocol (8 weeks: 2 weeks supervised, 6 weeks home practice with telemonitoring) plus pharmacological and/or CBT-based standard care.
Stretching group + Standard Care: Stretching group matched for duration and supervision plus standard care.
Standard Care Alone: Pharmacological and/or CBT without exercise intervention. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, 2 weeks, and 8 weeks. The trial is assessor-blinded, uses permuted block randomization, and will follow CONSORT and SPIRIT guidelines. Results may investigate the role of yoga as an adjunctive therapy for chronic insomnia.
Interventions
- Behavioral Yoga-intervention
Yoga-based mind-body program based on the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) developed by the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. The protocol included a standardized sequence of yogic practices such as loosening exercises, asanas, pranayama, and relaxation/meditation techniques. A modified version of the Common Yoga Protocol with modification limited to the duration of practice, while maintaining the structure and components of the original protocol. Participants practiced yoga for 5 days per week, - Behavioral Stretching Exercises
Participants in the stretching group will practise supervised stretching exercise protocol which include overhead trunk stretch, goal post stretch, rear deltoid stretch, wrist stretch, chair assisted hamstring stretch, leg criss-cross oblique stretch, prone lying quadriceps stretch, crescent stretch (hip flexors), knee to chest stretch exercises for continuous 2 weeks followed by 6 weeks of self-training which will be monitored through zoom calls by the researcher and yoga instructor.
Primary outcome measures
- Severity of insomnia: Insomnia severity index (ISI) [Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks]
Secondary outcome measures (1)
- Change in Sleep Architecture [Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Age:18-65 years
- Either gender
- Diagnosis of chronic insomnia as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR)
- Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria
- A current diagnosis of any other sleep disorder such as RLS, PLMS, circadian rhythm sleep disorder, narcolepsy, parasomnias
- Suicidal ideation
- Shift work or trans-meridian travel in last two weeks
- Pregnant or lactating females
- Excessive caffeine use
- History of drug or alcohol abuse
- Serious chronic conditions or exacerbation of chronic disorder preventing further participation
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
India · 1 center
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi — New Delhi
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07419152 · D-642