Tai Chi Treatment for Depression in Chinese Americans: A Pilot Study. 


Author: Yeung A, Lepoutre V, Wayne P, Yeh G, Slipp LE, Fava M, Denninger JW, Benson H, Fricchione GL

Affiliation: From the Benson Henry Institute (AY, VL, LES, JWD, HB, GLF), Depression Clinical and Research Program (AY, MF), and Department of Psychiatry (AY, MF, JWD, GLF), Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School (AY, PW, GY, MF, JWD, HB, GLF); Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital (PW); and Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts (GY). 
Conference/Journal: Am J Phys Med Rehabil.
Date published: 2012 Jul 12
Other:
  Word Count: 204  
    OBJECTIVE:

This study examined the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of using tai chi for treating major depressive disorder.

DESIGN:

Thirty-nine Chinese Americans with major depressive disorder were randomized into a 12-wk tai chi intervention or a waitlisted control group in a 2:1 ratio. The key outcome measurement was the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Positive response was defined as a decrease of 50% or more on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and remission was defined as a score of 7 or lower on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.

RESULTS:

Of the participants (n = 39), 77% were women, and mean (SD) age was 55 (10) years. There were 26 (67%) participants in the tai chi intervention group and 13 (33%) in the control group. Of the participants in the tai chi group, 73% completed the intervention; no adverse events were reported. We observed trends toward improvement in the tai chi intervention group, compared with the control group, in positive treatment-response rate (24% vs. 0%) and remission rate (19% vs. 0%), although the differences in our small sample did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS:

A randomized controlled trial of tai chi is feasible and safe in Chinese American patients with major depressive disorder. These promising pilot study results inform the design of a more definitive trial.

PMID: 22790795