P02.179. Effects of an integrated yoga program on mood, perceived stress, quality of life and immune measures in HIV patients: a pilot study

Methods Seventy HIV+ subjects not on HAART and with a CD4 count >250 were recruited from a HIV referral center in Bangalore to participate in a two arm randomized waitlist control trial. Subjects were randomized to receive a yoga intervention (N = 36) or serve as wait-list controls (N = 34). While the yoga group received an integrated set of one hour daily yoga therapy sessions (asanas, pranayama and meditation) for 3 months, the waitlist control group received only education and counseling during clinic visits. Both groups were assessed at baseline and after the intervention period using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, the HIV WHO QoL BREF, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule; CD4, CD8 counts were measured using flow cytometry, and viral load using RT PCR. There were 11 dropouts in yoga and 9 in the control group.