222. THE EFFECTS OF YOGA THERAPY ON STIGMA IN PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOL USE DISORDERS: A SINGLE-BLIND RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY (PRELIMINARY REPORT)

Abstract Background Stigma hinders the recovery from mental disorders due to societal statuses, social networks, and patients' pride. Self-stigma particularly internalizes fear of standing out, leading patients to experience self-blame, despair, and shame associated with their mental disorders. Patients with alcohol use disorders face self-stigma due to the lack of social acceptance for such conditions. Yoga is a mind-body exercise intervention that has gained popularity over the last decade. Previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reported that yoga therapy effectively reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms among severe mental illnesses. However, there are limited RCTs for patients with alcohol use disorders using yoga therapy, and no comprehensive evaluation for internal stigma has been conducted. Aims & Objectives In this RCT, we aimed to evaluate the effects of 10-week online yoga on stigma in outpatients with alcohol use disorders. Method This study design is a single-blind, randomized controlled trial for outpatients with alcohol use disorders according to the International Classification of Diseases, the 11th edition, aged 20 or above under treatment at Inokashira Hospital in Japan. Participants were randomly divided into two groups; the yoga group received a 50-minute yoga session once a week for ten weeks, and the control group participated in the treatment as usual. Each session was conducted in addition to their ongoing treatments. We measured stigma using the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI) as primary evaluation items, the Alcohol Relapse Risk Scale (ARRS), the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS-J), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Global assessment of functioning (GAF), the EuroQol-5 dimensions classification system (Index and VAS: visual analogue scale) and salivary alpha-amylase (SAA) activity as secondary evaluation items. These assessments were performed before, at the fifth week, after the intervention and at the two-week follow-up. The data analysis was conducted using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) by R. Results Results of preliminary analyses were reported herein. Forty-two patients participated in this study (mean±SD age, 57.6±10.7 years; male, 88.1 % (n=37); duration of illness, 9.3±8.2 years; duration of outpatient period, 4.3±5.6 years). Two patients (4.8 %) were excluded before intervention. In the yoga group (n=20), the ISMI score significantly decreased from 52.7±11.5 at baseline to 50.3±11.0 after the intervention, and the ARRS also significantly decreased from 54.6±8.1 to 53.2±8.9. The ANCOVA demonstrated significant differences in the ISMI (p=0.048) and the ARRS (p=0.003). The two-way ANOVA showed significant differences in the course of the ISMI, the GAD, and VAS during the intervention between the yoga group and the control group. Discussion & Conclusions The preliminary findings from our RCT indicate the potential effects of 10-week online yoga sessions on internal stigma and alcohol relapse risk among individuals with alcohol use disorders. These findings indicate that yoga therapy may directly impact reducing stigma and the desire to drink in patients with alcohol use disorders. This study is still in progress, with a planned enrollment of 60 participants. Further inquiry is necessary to establish the efficacy of yoga sessions for individuals with alcohol use disorders.