Publication

Abstract : Depressive illness is one of t he most common psychiatric disorders. In recent years its prevalence is high throughout the world and is a major challenge to the medical profession. There are many formulations recommended for mental disorders in the classics of Ayurveda. But scientific evaluations are less t o establish t he effect of these formulations in various t ypes of mental disorders. The present study is to evaluate the effect of Brahmyadi yoga i n symptoms of Depressive illness. The study was an open trial done i n ten patients, without control group. It was done i n OPD, Department of Kayachikitsa, Government Ayurveda College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram. Patients were selected as per ICD- 10 diagnostic criteria with proper exclusion. Participants were administered Brahmyadi yoga, 6gm twice daily before food, with honey for a period of three months. Clinical assessment was done using Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, before and after the intervention. Data obtained were statistically analyzed. There was significant reduction in the t otal score of HRSD (p < 0.05). Statistically significant change (p < 0.05) was observed in the symptoms like, depressed mood, suicide, insomnia (early and late), anxiety (psychological) and general somatic symptoms. The changes in symptoms like insomnia (middle), work and activities, retardation (psychomotor), agitation, anxiety (somati c) and gastrointestinal symptoms showed a p value >0.05. The study concluded that the study drug Brahmyadi yoga i s significantly reducing some major symptoms of depression and not reducing some other symptoms.