Effectiveness of Online Yoga Therapy for Patients with Brain Tumors and Their Family Members

Brain tumors are neoplastic diseases of the central nervous system in which cells in the brain or spinal cord grow uncontrollably. Depending on the cell type, they are classified into various subgroups, such as astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, glioblastomas, ependymomas, or meningiomas. In addition, they are classified into so-called grades according to the WHO classification: Malignant tumors that grow rapidly and have a poorer prognosis are assigned to Grade 3 or Grade 4. Treatment is tailored individually to each patient. It may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy. Brain tumors can cause, among other things, headaches, neurological deficits, seizures, and changes in personality. In addition, patients may exhibit symptoms of depression and anxiety. Studies conducted to date suggest that yoga can alleviate the severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with cancer. However, these studies were not conducted specifically for patients with brain tumors. Furthermore, there have been very few studies to date that examine the supportive potential of yoga for family members of brain tumor patients.

The aim of this Phase 2 study is to investigate the effects of an online yoga program on emotional distress, quality of life, and stress-related physiological risk factors in patients and their family members. As part of the study, patients and their family members will be randomly assigned to two groups. The intervention group will receive an 8-week online yoga intervention (1 hour per week). The control group will continue to receive medical and supportive care but will not receive the yoga intervention. Immediately before and after the intervention, as well as 3 months after the intervention ends, the patients and their family members will complete several standardized questionnaires. The primary endpoint of the study is the level of perceived anxiety when comparing the two groups. Since psychological stress can also affect the body, blood and hair samples from the participants will also be analyzed.

Women and men aged 18 and older who have a high-grade brain tumor, or who are family members of such patients, are eligible to participate in this study. Participants must not have any severe neurological impairments that would preclude participation in a yoga class.