Effect of Yoga on Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Background: Studies indicate that depression and cognitive functions are important issues of mental health, a serious health issue worth evaluating with possible alternative non-medical treatment options in MS patients. Yoga, and particularly practices such as Pranayama and meditation, is an emerging complementary therapy to help with physical and mental health in MS patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of practice on fatigue, respiratory closure, depression and cognition in patients diagnosed with MS and whether the benefit of yoga training is affected by personality structure. Methods: The study included 25 participants between the ages of 18–70 who were diagnosed with MS, with an EDSS of 6 and below and who did not show symptoms of depression and did not use antidepressants. Any previous cerebrovascular disease HT, DM, Trioid dysfunction, or vitamin B12 deficiency were determined as an exclusion criteria. In the study, patients received Hatha Yoga practice 2 days a week for 8 weeks. MOCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) and Beck Depression Scale, Personality analysis test, pulmonary function test, fatigue impact scales were applied to all patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria at the beginning and after the completion of Yoga practice. Results: According to the results obtained, a decrease in the Beck Depression Inventory results and a significant increase in the Moka Cognitive Test and respiratory capacity were detected. These findings show that yoga practice improves depression, cognitive functions and respiratory capacity. The relationship between the benefits obtained from yoga training and personality traits was evaluated by examining the participant's character and temperament inventory analysis participants character and temperament inventory analysis results. When the participants applied the personality inventory after yoga, an increase in novelty seeking, reward dependence, persistence and self-transcendence was observed. Similarly, while the participants tended to avoid harm before yoga, their tendency to avoid harm decreased after yoga. Conclusion: These findings indicate that yoga practice improves depression, cognitive functions and respiratory capacity positively ,which is also reflected in personality trait scores especially when it comes to which personality trait