Yoga may be an effective treatment for core Gulf War Illness symptoms of pain and fatigue.

J Psychiatr Res. 2020 Nov 11. Epub 2020 Nov 11. PMID: 33218747

Abstract Title: 

Yoga is effective in treating symptoms of Gulf War illness: A randomized clinical trial.

Abstract: 

Many Veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War report symptoms of Gulf War Illness, a condition involving numerous chronic symptoms including pain, fatigue, and mood/cognition symptoms. Little is known about this condition’s etiology and treatment. This study reports outcomes from a randomized controlled single-blind trial comparing yoga to cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain and other symptoms of Gulf War Illness. Participants were Veterans with symptoms of GWI: chronic pain, fatigue and cognition-mood symptoms. Seventy-five Veterans were randomized to treatment via selection of envelopes from a bag (39 yoga, 36 cognitive behavioral therapy), which consisted of ten weekly group sessions. The primary outcomes of pain severity and interference (Brief Pain Inventory- Short Form) improved in the yoga condition (Cohen’s d = .35, p = 0.002 and d = 0.69, p 

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