Yoga as an Adjuvant with Multimodal Psychological Interventions for Excessive Use of Technology: A Randomized Controlled Trial from India

Autor: Ashwini Tadpatrikar, Manoj Kumar Sharma, Hemant Bhargav, Nitin Anand, Priyamvada Sharma, Shubham Sharma
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: International Journal of Yoga, Vol 17, Iss 1, Pp 37-45 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 0973-6131
2231-2714
DOI: 10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_187_23
Popis: Background: Multimodal approach of psychotherapy has been found to be effective for managing the excessive use of technology. Yoga, a holistic mind–body therapy, has been observed to be a useful adjuvant in managing substance use disorders. Yoga is also known to reduce stress and enhance overall well-being. The aim of this study was to examine whether yoga as an adjuvant treatment to psychotherapy is better than psychotherapy alone in reducing dysfunction and severity due to excessive technology use. Methods: A two-arm randomized controlled prospective study design was followed with assessor blinding and allocation concealment. Thirty consenting young adults (22 males), scoring above 36 on the Internet Addiction Test, were randomly allocated to either: Group A = psychotherapy + yoga or Group B = psychotherapy alone. Both groups received 8 sessions of psychotherapy in the 1st month. In addition, Group A received additional 10 sessions a specific yoga program (by trained professionals). After that, monthly booster sessions (supervised yoga sessions performed with direct one-on-one contact with the yoga therapist) were organized and post-assessment was conducted at 12 weeks. Each subject was assessed using the Internet Addiction Test-Short Form, Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale at baseline and after 12 weeks. Results: As compared to Group B, Group A had significantly reduced Internet use (F = 5.61, P = 0.02, ηp2 = 0.17), smartphone use (F = 4.76, P = 0.03, ηp2 = 0.15), psychological distress (F = 7.71, P = 0.01, ηp2 = 0.22), and weekday use (Z = −2.0, P = 0.05, ηp2 = 0.15) along with enhanced treatment adherence and retention. Conclusion: Yoga as an adjuvant therapy with multimodal psychological intervention for excessive use of technology was found to be effective. This carries clinical implications for mental health professionals.
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