Effect of Yoga Therapy on Symptoms of Anxiety in Cancer Patients
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Many cancer patients suffer from symptoms of anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Supportive treatments are increasingly used to alleviate distress in cancer. In this study, the effects of yoga on these symptoms are examined. METHODS: We performed a randomized controlled study on cancer patients with mixed diagnoses comparing yoga therapy with a waiting list control group. We measured anxiety symptoms with the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale, depressive symptoms with the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), and fatigue with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Fatigue scale (EORTC QLQ-FA13). Yoga therapy was carried out in weekly sessions of 60 min each for 8 weeks. The program provided restrained body and breathing exercises as well as meditation. The control group did not receive any yoga therapy while on the waiting list. RESULTS: A total of 70 subjects participated in the study. Anxiety was significantly reduced by the yoga therapy in the intervention group compared to the control group (p = 0.005). However, yoga therapy did not show any significant effects on depression (p = 0.21) and fatigue (p = 0.11) compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Yoga therapy may be used to alleviate anxiety symptoms in cancer patients and should be the subject of further research.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The positive effects of yoga on patients' psychological well-being have long been known.
“Although the positive effects of yoga on patients’ psychological well-being have long been known [55,56,57,58,59] the study conducted in this project showed that cancer patients could successfully practice vinyasa yoga.”
From The Effect of Vinyasa Yoga Practice on the Well-Being of Breast-Cancer Patients during COVID-19 Pandemic (2023) · cites this paper as [55]
The yoga exercises used in the intervention were already evaluated in previous trials.
“The yoga exercises were already evaluated in previous trials.35,40”
From Effects of a Video Sequence Based Intervention on Anxiety, Fatigue and Depression in Cancer Patients: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial. (2023) · cites this paper as [35]
Yoga and Qigong affected the target variables.
“Additionally, we included complementary and alternative medicine elements that affected the target variables, such as Yoga34-37 and Qigong.38,39”
From Effects of a Video Sequence Based Intervention on Anxiety, Fatigue and Depression in Cancer Patients: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial. (2023) · cites this paper as [35]
Cites
A Brief Measure for Assessing Generalized Anxiety Disorder: The GAD-7
Spitzer, R. L., Kroenke, K., Williams, J. B. W., & Löwe, B. (2006) · Archives of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092 · Cited by 31,765 · see citing works
The Patient Health Questionnaire-2: Validity of a Two-Item Depression Screener
Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. W. (2003) · Medical Care · doi:10.1097/01.mlr.0000093487.78664.3c · Cited by 6,359 · see citing works
Detecting and monitoring depression with a two-item questionnaire (PHQ-2)
Löwe, B., Kroenke, K., & Gräfe, K. (2005) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2004.09.006 · Cited by 1,473 · see citing works
Prevalence of depression in patients with cancer
Massie, M. J. (2004) · Journal of the National Cancer Institute Monographs · doi:10.1093/jncimonographs/lgh014 · Cited by 1,408 · see citing works
JACOBI, F., WITTCHEN, H.-U., HÖLTING, C., HÖFLER, M., PFISTER, H., MÜLLER, N., & LIEB, R. (2004) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291703001399 · Cited by 1,097 · see citing works
Krebber, A. M. H., Buffart, L. M., Kleijn, G., Riepma, I. C., de Bree, R., Leemans, C. R., Becker, A., Brug, J., van Straten, A., Cuijpers, P., et al. (2014) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.3409 · Cited by 908 · see citing works
How Many Cancer Patients Use Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Horneber, M., Büschel, G., Dennert, G., Less, D., Ritter, E. J., & Zwahlen, M. (2011) · Integrative Cancer Therapies · doi:10.1177/1534735411423920 · Cited by 719 · see citing works
Four-Week Prevalence of Mental Disorders in Patients With Cancer Across Major Tumor Entities
Mehnert, A., Brähler, E., Faller, H., Härter, M., Keller, M., Schulz, H., Wegscheider, K., Weis, J., Boehncke, A., Hund, B., et al. (2014) · Journal of Clinical Oncology · doi:10.1200/jco.2014.56.0086 · Cited by 649 · see citing works
Prävalenz von depressiver Symptomatik und diagnostizierter Depression bei Erwachsenen in Deutschland
Busch, M. A., Maske, U., Ryl, L., Schlack, R., & Hapke, U. (2013) · Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz · doi:10.1007/s00103-013-1688-3 · Cited by 382 · see citing works
Buffart, L. M., van Uffelen, J. G. Z., Riphagen, I. I., Brug, J., van Mechelen, W., Brown, W. J., & Chinapaw, M. J. M. (2012) · BMC Cancer · doi:10.1186/1471-2407-12-559 · Cited by 362 · see citing works
Yoga for breast cancer patients and survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Cramer, H., Lange, S., Klose, P., Paul, A. E., & Dobos, G. (2012) · BMC Cancer · doi:10.1186/1471-2407-12-412 · Cited by 222 · see citing works
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Women With Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review
Wanchai, A., Armer, J. M., & Stewart, B. R. (2010) · Clinical journal of oncology nursing · doi:10.1188/10.cjon.e45-e55 · Cited by 218 · see citing works
Lin, K., Hu, Y., Chang, K., Lin, H.-F., & Tsauo, J. (2011) · Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine · doi:10.1155/2011/659876 · Cited by 217 · see citing works
Prevalence of depression in breast cancer survivors: a systematic review of observational studies
Zainal, N. Z., Nik-Jaafar, N. R., Baharudin, A., Sabki, Z. A., & Ng, C. G. (2013) · Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention · doi:10.7314/apjcp.2013.14.4.2649 · Cited by 204 · see citing works
Prävalenz affektiver und Angststörungen bei Krebs: Systematischer Literaturreview und Metaanalyse
Vehling, S., Koch, U., Ladehoff, N., Schön, G., Wegscheider, K., Heckl, U., Weis, J., & Mehnert, A. (2012) · PPmP - Psychotherapie · Psychosomatik · Medizinische Psychologie · doi:10.1055/s-0032-1309032 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Fatigue in Cancer Survivors – Prevalence and Correlates
Kuhnt, S., Ernst, J., Singer, S., ffer, J.-U. R. ⁄., Kortmann, R., Stolzenburg, J., & Schwarz, R. (2009) · Onkologie · doi:10.1159/000215943 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
The use of complementary and alternative medicine by cancer patients
Adams, M., & Jewell, A. P. (2007) · International Seminars in Surgical Oncology · doi:10.1186/1477-7800-4-10 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Estimating the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome and associated symptoms in the community.
Price, R. K., North, C. S., Wessely, S. C., & Fraser, V. J. (1992) · Europe PMC (PubMed Central) · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Effectiveness of Yoga Therapy as a Complementary Treatment for Major Psychiatric Disorders
Cabral, P., Meyer, H. B., & Ames, D. (2011) · The Primary Care Companion For CNS Disorders · doi:10.4088/pcc.10r01068 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Lima, A. A. P., van Rooij, T., Ergin, B., Sorelli, M., Ince, Y., Specht, P. A. C., Mik, E. G., Bocchi, L., Kooiman, K., de Jong, N., et al. (2018) · Critical Care Medicine · doi:10.1097/ccm.0000000000003209 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
Weis, J., Arrarás, J. I., Conroy, T., Efficace, F., Fleissner, C., Görög, A., Hammerlid, E. B., Holzner, B., Jones, L., Lanceley, A., et al. (2012) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.3092 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Accountability Studies on Air Pollution and Health: the HEI Experience
Boogaard, H., van Erp, A. M., Walker, K. D., & Shaikh, R. (2017) · Current Environmental Health Reports · doi:10.1007/s40572-017-0161-0 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Mind-Body Practices in Cancer Care
Chaoul, A., Milbury, K., Sood, A. K., Prinsloo, S., & Cohen, L. G. (2014) · Current Oncology Reports · doi:10.1007/s11912-014-0417-x · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Effects of Yoga Interventions on Fatigue: A Meta-Analysis
Boehm, K., Ostermann, T., Milazzo, S., & Büssing, A. (2012) · Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine · doi:10.1155/2012/124703 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Impact and Outcomes of an Iyengar Yoga Program in a Cancer Centre
Duncan, M. D., Leis, A., & Taylor‐Brown, J. (2008) · Current Oncology · doi:10.3747/co.v15i0.284 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Effect of yoga on patients with cancer: our current understanding.
Côté, A., & Daneault, S. (2012) · Europe PMC (PubMed Central) · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Fuhrmann, K., Mehnert, A., Geue, K., & Hinz, A. (2014) · Breast Cancer · doi:10.1007/s12282-014-0527-1 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Gonzalez, M., Pascoe, M. C., Yang, G., de Manincor, M., Grant, S., Lacey, J., Firth, J., & Sarris, J. (2021) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.5671 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Lundt, A., & Jentschke, E. (2019) · Integrative Cancer Therapies · doi:10.1177/1534735418822096 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
The Effectiveness of Serious Games in Alleviating Anxiety: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Abd-Alrazaq, A. A., Alajlani, M., Alhuwail, D., Schneider, J., Akhu‐Zaheya, L., Ahmed, A., & Househ, M. S. (2021) · JMIR Serious Games · doi:10.2196/29137 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Zetzl, T., Renner, A., Pittig, A., Jentschke, E., Roch, C., & van Oorschot, B. (2021) · Supportive Care in Cancer · doi:10.1007/s00520-020-05794-2 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Which Exercise Approaches Work for Relieving Cancer-Related Fatigue? A Network Meta-analysis
Dong, B., Qi, Y., Lü, L., Liu, T., Wang, S., Zhang, Y., Yuan, Y., Cheng, H., Chen, Q., Fang, Q., et al. (2023) · Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy · doi:10.2519/jospt.2023.11251 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Health benefits of yoga for cancer survivors: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Niu, N., Huang, R., Zhao, J., & Zeng, Y. (2023) · Asia-Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.apjon.2023.100316 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Lu, H., Ma, R., Yin, Y.-Y., Song, C., Yang, T.-T., & Xie, J. (2023) · Cancer Nursing · doi:10.1097/ncc.0000000000001208 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Neubert, S., Schlecht, S., Meng, K., Rabe, A., & Jentschke, E. (2023) · Integrative Cancer Therapies · doi:10.1177/15347354231153172 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Zok, A., Matecka, M., Zapala, J., Izycki, D., & Baum, E. (2023) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph20043770 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Takemura, N., Chung, K. C.-W., Kwok, J. Y. Y., & Fong, D. (2025) · Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics · doi:10.1159/000545697 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Therapeutic yoga reduces pro-tumorigenic cytokines in cancer survivors
Patel, D. I., Almeida, G. J., Darby, N., Serra, M. C., Calderon, T., Lapetoda, A., Gutierrez, B. S., Ramírez, A. G., & Hughes, D. C. (2022) · Supportive Care in Cancer · doi:10.1007/s00520-022-07536-y · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Wang, Y.-X., Wang, Y., Cui, Y., Su, W., & Xue, Y. (2025) · European Journal of Oncology Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2025.103022 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Brunet, J., Wurz, A. J., Hussien, J., Pitman, A., Conte, E., Ennis, J., Herry, C. L., SEELY, A. J. E., & Seely, D. (2022) · Integrative Cancer Therapies · doi:10.1177/15347354221075576 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Systematic review to explore the effect of yoga on anxiety in adults
Laban-Sharman, A., Deveci, M. M., & Laban-Sharman, D. R. (2023) · Mental Health Global Challenges Journal · doi:10.56508/mhgcj.v6i1.150 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Usta, E., & İnözü, M. (2023) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-023-05318-1 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Zetzl, T., Schüler, M., Renner, A., Jentschke, E., & van Oorschot, B. (2019) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-019-0339-3 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Poor, M. H., Ghorashi, Z., & Molamomanaei, Z. (2022) · Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences · doi:10.4103/jnms.jnms_173_21 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Baralo, B., Paravathaneni, M., Jain, A., Buragamadagu, B., Khanam, A., Iqbal, S. F., Hossain, S., Mulla, S., Choi, E., & Thirumaran, R. (2022) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-022-00994-3 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Cheng, H., Zhou, Z. Y., Wang, H., & Hang, X. (2025) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.70222 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Meditative and mind-body practice among patients with genitourinary malignancy
Daly, W. C., Han, P. K. J., Hayn, M. H., Ryan, S. T., Hansen, M. H., Linscott, J. A., Trinh, Q., & Sammon, J. D. (2021) · Urologic Oncology Seminars and Original Investigations · doi:10.1016/j.urolonc.2020.09.011 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Giridharan, S., & Kumar, N. V. (2024) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.58993 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Rabe, A., Kessler, A. F., Hagemann, C., Schubert, J., & Jentschke, E. (2024) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-075698 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Exercise and Anxiety in Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials
Amiri, S., & Esmaeili, A. A. (2022) · Physical & Occupational Therapy In Geriatrics · doi:10.1080/02703181.2022.2110628 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Li, L., Chen, X., Yang, C., Hui, Z., & Fan, T. (2025) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106304 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Intervensi Nonfaramakologik untuk Mengurangi Cemas dalam Meningkatkan Kualitas Hidup ODHA
Azizah, S. S., Waluyo, A. D., & Yona, S. (2022) · Jurnal Keperawatan Silampari · doi:10.31539/jks.v5i2.3036 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Meng, K., Reis, J. M., Kruse, A., van der Lee, I., Ballweg, A., Wallis, M., Rücker, V., Heuschmann, P. U., & Jentschke, E. (2025) · Trials · doi:10.1186/s13063-025-09211-z · Cited by 1 · see citing works
The effect of yoga classes on the mental health of female college students
HUANG, X., Sun, T., Dongxu, H. A. N., Lin, H., Zhang, H., & Hou, X. (2023) · The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness · doi:10.23736/s0022-4707.23.15104-8 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Rabe, A., Kessler, A. F., Hagemann, C., Jörg, S., & Jentschke, E. (2023) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-2650934/v1 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Das Potential von Mind Body Medicine in der Onkologie
Voiss, P., & Witt, C. (2018) · Karger Kompass Onkologie · doi:10.1159/000493313
Somers, T. J., Kelleher, S. A., & Check, D. K. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-75377-1_7
Η επίδραση της συμβουλευτικής και της άσκησης στην ποιότητα ζωής των καρκινοπαθών
Papastergiou, D. (2021) · doi:10.12681/eadd/50901
Psychosoziale Unterstützungskonzepte
Münch, U. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-57362-4_6
Integrative Yoga Therapy for Mental Health
Raval, A. (2022) · Journal of Yoga Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation · doi:10.29011/2577-0756.001086
The Progress of Yoga for the Treatment of Anxiety
Yi, D., & Li, J. (2022) · Highlights in Science Engineering and Technology · doi:10.54097/hset.v8i.1218
Os efeitos do yoga em pacientes oncológicos
Batista, L. P., Oliveira, G. R., Ramos, F. C., Dias, C. D. S., Passos, X. S., & de Morais, F. D. (2022) · Brazilian Journal of Health Review · doi:10.34119/bjhrv5n6-252
Musculoskeletal Injuries Associated with Yoga Practice - a Literature Review
Niemaszyk, M., & Truszczyńska-Baszak, A. (2023) · Rehabilitacja Medyczna · doi:10.5604/01.3001.0016.3420
(2023) · European Journal of Gynaecological Oncology · doi:10.22514/ejgo.2023.049
Using ChatGPT as a grief counseling tool in end-stage cancer diagnosis
Patel, H. (2024) · The Journal of Community Health Management · doi:10.18231/j.jchm.2024.018
Sharma, N., S., N. J., Yadav, S. S., & Rao, R. M. (2025) · International Journal of Yoga · doi:10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_83_25
Liu, J., Wang, H., Lan, Y., Yuan, D., Du, B., Zhou, Y., Zhang, W., Ke, X., Jiang, Q., Wang, F., et al. (2026) · Psychology Research and Behavior Management · doi:10.2147/prbm.s570270
Zhao, X., Chen, X., Ma, J., Tang, J., Ai, X., & Zhao, Z. (2026) · Complementary Therapies in Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103397
Qian, B., & Wen, L. (2026) · Psycho-Oncologie · doi:10.18282/po4046
Umgang mit reduzierter Leistungsfähigkeit bei der Rückkehr zur Arbeit
Jentschke, E., & Meng, K. (2026) · best practice onkologie · doi:10.1007/s11654-026-00769-x
- Authors
- Hardoerfer, K., & Jentschke, E.
- Affiliations
- University of Würzburg (DE)
- ORCID
- Jentschke, Elisabeth
- Venue
- Oncology Research and Treatment
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG
- Published
- 2018
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 526-532
- ISSN
- 2296-5262 (ISSN-L)
- 2296-5270
- OpenAlex
- W2887980949
- Cited by
- 43
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 0.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Oncology Research and Treatment (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies
- Keywords
- yoga therapy, anxiety, cancer patients, depression, fatigue, complementary therapy, meditation, breathing exercises, supportive care
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Anxiety, Depression, Mental Fatigue, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Psychometrics, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Yoga, Treatment Outcome
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
