Effect of Alternate Nostril Breathing Exercise on Experimentally Induced Anxiety in Healthy Volunteers Using the Simulated Public Speaking Model: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Ashwin Kamath, Rathnakar P Urval, Ashok K Shenoy, Ashwin Kamath, Rathnakar P Urval, Ashok K Shenoy

Abstract

A randomized controlled pilot study was carried out to determine the effect of a 15-minute practice of ANB exercise on experimentally induced anxiety using the simulated public speaking model in yoga-naïve healthy young adults. Thirty consenting medical students were equally divided into test and control groups. The test group performed alternate nostril breathing exercise for 15 minutes, while the control group sat in a quiet room before participating in the simulated public speaking test (SPST). Visual Analog Mood Scale and Self-Statements during Public Speaking scale were used to measure the mood state at different phases of the SPST. The psychometric scores of both groups were comparable at baseline. Repeated-measures ANOVA showed a significant effect of phase (p < 0.05), but group and gender did not have statistically significant influence on the mean anxiety scores. However, the test group showed a trend towards lower mean scores for the anxiety factor when compared with the control group. Considering the limitations of this pilot study and the trend seen towards lower anxiety in the test group, alternate nostril breathing may have potential anxiolytic effect in acute stressful situations. A study with larger sample size is therefore warranted. This trial is registered with CTRI/2014/03/004460.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of the delta scores of Visual Analog Mood Scale (VAMS) factors in the test and control groups during various phases of the simulated public speaking test. The delta scores were obtained by calculating the difference between the VAMS score for each phase and the baseline score. The dark-gray line represents the test group, and the light-gray line represents the control group. The horizontal axis represents the various experimental phases, and the vertical axis represents the VAMS factor scores. The vertical bars represent the standard error. B, baseline; P, prestress; A, anticipatory phase; S, speech performance; F, poststress.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of the delta scores of Self-Statements during Public Speaking (SSPS) scale in the test and control groups during various phases of the simulated public speaking test. The delta scores were obtained by calculating the difference between the SSPS score for each phase and the baseline score. The dark-gray line represents the test group, and the light-gray line represents the control group. The horizontal axis represents the various experimental phases, and the vertical axis represents the SSPS scores. The vertical bars represent the standard error. B, baseline; P, prestress; A, anticipatory phase; S, speech performance; F, poststress.

References

    1. Trivedi J. K., Gupta P. K. An overview of Indian research in anxiety disorders. Indian Journal of Psychiatry. 2010;52(7) supplement 1:S210–S218.
    1. Vahia V. N., Shetty H. K., Motiwala S., Thakkar G., Fernandes L., Sharma J. C. Efficacy of meditation in generalized anxiety disorder. Indian Journal of Psychiatry. 1993;35(2):87–91.
    1. Kirkwood G., Rampes H., Tuffrey V., Richardson J., Pilkington K. Yoga for anxiety: a systematic review of the research evidence. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2005;39(12):884–891. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2005.018069.
    1. Iyengar B. K. S. Light on Yoga. New York, NY, USA: Schocken Books; 1966.
    1. Cramer H., Lauche R., Klose P., Langhorst J., Dobos G. Yoga for schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry. 2013;13, article no. 32 doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-13-32.
    1. Saraswati S. M. Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Munger, India: Bihar School of Yoga; 1985.
    1. Telles S., Singh N., Puthige R. Changes in P300 following alternate nostril yoga breathing and breath awareness. BioPsychoSocial Medicine. 2013;7(1, article no. 11) doi: 10.1186/1751-0759-7-11.
    1. Stančák A., Jr., Kuna M. EEG changes during forced alternate nostril breathing. International Journal of Psychophysiology. 1994;18(1):75–79. doi: 10.1016/0167-8760(84)90017-5.
    1. Naveen K. V., Nagarathna R., Nagendra H. R., Telles S. Yoga breathing through a particular nostril increases spatial memory scores without lateralized effects. Psychological Reports. 1997;81(2):555–561. doi: 10.2466/pr0.1997.81.2.555.
    1. Subramanya P., Telles S. Effect of two yoga-based relaxation techniques on memory scores and state anxiety. BioPsychoSocial Medicine. 2009;3, article 8 doi: 10.1186/1751-0759-3-8.
    1. Raghuraj P., Ramakrishnan A. G., Nagendra H. R., Telles S. Effect of two selected yogic breathing techniques on heart rate variability. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 1998;42(4):467–472.
    1. Srivastava R. D., Jain N., Singhal A. Influence of alternate nostril breathing on cardiorespiratory and autonomic functions in healthy young adults. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 2005;49(4):475–483.
    1. Subbalakshmi N. K., Saxena S. K., Urmimala, D’Souza U. J. A. Immediate effect of ‘nadishodhana pranayama’ on some selected parameters of cardiovascular, pulmonary, and higher functions of brain. Thai Journal of Physiological Sciences. 2005;18:10–16.
    1. Telles S., Sharma S. K. U., Balkrishna A. Blood pressure and heart rate variability during yoga-based alternate nostril breathing practice and breath awareness. Medical Science Monitor Basic Research. 2014;20:184–193. doi: 10.12659/MSMBR.892063.
    1. Graeff F. G., Del-Ben C. M., Guimarães F. S. Pharmacology of human experimental anxiety. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research. 2003;36(4):421–432. doi: 10.1590/S0100-879X2003000400003.
    1. Hofmann S. G., DiBartolo P. M. An instrument to assess self-statements during public speaking: scale development and preliminary psychometric properties. Behavior Therapy. 2000;31(3):499–515. doi: 10.1016/S0005-7894(00)80027-1.
    1. Norris H. The action of sedatives on brain stem oculomotor systems in man. Neuropharmacology. 1971;10(2):181–191. doi: 10.1016/0028-3908(71)90039-6.
    1. Herbert M., Johns M. W., Dore C. Factor analysis of analogue scales measuring subjective feelings before and after sleep. British Journal of Medical Psychology. 1976;49(4):373–379. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8341.1976.tb02388.x.
    1. Bergamaschi M. M., Queiroz R. H. C., Chagas M. H. N., et al. Cannabidiol reduces the anxiety induced by simulated public speaking in treatment-nave social phobia patients. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2011;36(6):1219–1226. doi: 10.1038/npp.2011.6.
    1. Streeter C. C., Theodore H. Whitfield, Owen L., et al. Effects of yoga versus walking on mood, anxiety, and brain GABA levels: a randomized controlled MRS study. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2010;16(11):1145–1152. doi: 10.1089/acm.2010.0007.
    1. Zuardi A. W., de Souza Crippa J. A., Cecílio Hallak J. E., Gorayeb R. Human experimental anxiety: actual public speaking induces more intense physiological responses than simulated public speaking. Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria. 2013;35(3):248–253. doi: 10.1590/1516-4446-2012-0930.
    1. da Silva T. L., Ravindran L. N., Ravindran A. V. Yoga in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders: a review. Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2009;2(1):6–16. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2008.12.002.

Source: PubMed

Sponsorer og samarbeidspartnere

Medisinsk tilstand

Legemiddelintervensjoner

3
Abonnere