Depression and Anxiety

Biography

Biography: Ekta Chalageri

Abstract

To explore new dimensions for healing through Raja Yoga Meditation (RYM) in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) patients along with their caregivers in order to increase quality of life with inner strength. This is pre-post observational study with two arms: Patients with conventional rehabilitation with RYM and patients with only conventional rehabilitation. Caregivers also assessed pre-post intervention to find effect of RYM. A total of 100 SCI patients and 100 caregivers were recruited based on eligibility criteria and ready to give consent for the study. The age of SCI patients ranged from 16 years to 60 years. 50 subjects were assigned in each group. The duration of study was 4 weeks. The sessions were conducted for 6 days per week. Meditation practice was done for 20 minutes through a guided commentary and motivation was given through Brahma Kumaris spiritual knowledge for 25 minutes. Pre and post assessment was done using standard tools namely Perceived stress Scale (PSS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (HADS), Scale (HADS), Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM), WHO Quality of Life BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), Numeric Pain Rating (NPR). Out of all parameters studied, PSS (p<0.001), HADS (p=0.001), QOL-BREF (p<0.001), showed statistically significant changes for patients measured before and after the intervention in both the arms. SCIM (p=0.513) and NPR (p=0.055), significant changes were observed within the arm measured pre-post assessment; however they did not show the significant difference between intervention and control arm. Caregivers parameter studied PSS (p<0.001), HADS (p=0.004) and observed significant changes in both the arms. Significant differences were observed in psychological scales before and after raja yoga meditation for patients and Caregivers. It suggests the use of RYM might help SCI patients for better and early recovery.