Yoga program to help teens with depression
Official title: Pilot multisite randomized controlled trial of yoga to reduce depression inadolescents
Funded at Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri) · NIH-11196194 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A yoga program aims to reduce depression symptoms in teenagers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $675,010 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AT012238-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11196194 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents with current depressive symptoms who can attend regular group sessions (in person or online) and are willing to be randomly assigned to a treatment group.
✕Less likely to help
Teens with severe, uncontrolled depression or active suicidal intent who need urgent or intensive treatment, or those unable to attend sessions or engage with group-based programs, may not receive benefit from this intervention alone.
What this research studies
You would be enrolled at one of several participating sites and randomly assigned to a yoga-based program or the comparison group; classes may be offered in person or synchronously online. The program teaches yoga postures, breathing, and mindfulness skills alongside regular group sessions, and staff track mood, self-compassion, attendance, and satisfaction over time. This multisite pilot uses standardized classes and measures to see whether teens show symptom reductions and improved coping compared with the other treatment. The team builds on a small earlier pilot and will test feasibility and early signals of benefit across sites.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer teens an accessible, low-cost option to reduce depressive symptoms and build coping skills.
How similar studies have gone: Small pilot trials in adolescents and larger studies in adults have shown promise for yoga-based interventions, but larger multisite trials in teens are still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri)
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Uebelacker, Lisa a — Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri)
- Study coordinator: Uebelacker, Lisa a
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.