The Effects of Tai Chi on Sleep Quality in Chinese American Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: A Pilot Study.

<italic>Objective:</italic> This pilot study evaluated the effects of Tai Chi training on sleep quality (primary outcomes), and depression and social functioning levels (secondary outcomes) among patients with depression. <italic>Participants:</italic> Sixteen depressed Chinese patients. <italic>Methods:</italic> Participants received 1-hr Tai Chi training sessions 2 times per week for 10 weeks. Patients’ subjective sleep quality ratings, objective sleep quality measurements, and depression and social functioning levels were measured before, during, and after the intervention. <italic>Results:</italic> Sleep quality and depression outcomes improved significantly. Patients reported improved Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores (9.6 ± 3.3 to 6.6 ± 5.2, <italic>p</italic> = 0.016), and cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC) analysis of electrocardiogram (ECG) showed decreased stable sleep onset latency (75.7 ± 100.6 to 20.9 ± 18.0, <italic>p</italic> = 0.014), increased stable sleep percentages (31.5 ± 18.7 to 46.3 ± 16.9, <italic>p</italic> = 0.016), and decreased unstable sleep percentages (45.3 ± 20.1 to 30.6 ± 16.5, <italic>p</italic> = 0.003). Patients also reported decreased Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D-17; 20.1 ± 3.7 to 7.8 ± 5.9, <italic>p</italic> < 0.001) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores (22.3 ± 9.1 to 11.1 ± 10.6, <italic>p</italic> = 0.006). Significant correlations were found between the changes in subjective sleep assessments ΔPSQI and ΔHAM-D-17 (<italic>r</italic> = 0.6, <italic>p</italic> = 0.014), and ΔPSQI and ΔBDI (<italic>r</italic> = 0.62, <italic>p</italic> = 0.010). Correlations between changes in objective sleep measurements and changes in depression symptoms were low and not significant. <italic>Conclusions:</italic> Tai Chi training improved sleep quality and mood symptoms among depressed patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]