Abstract
Introduction
Depression is a prevalent psychiatric disorder with substantial social and health burdens, and conventional pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments remain limited by side effects, poor tolerability, and variable efficacy. Baduanjin Qigong, a traditional Chinese mind–body exercise, has recently emerged as a promising complementary intervention.
Purpose
This review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Baduanjin in the prevention and treatment of depression, with particular attention to its role as a stand-alone therapy and as an adjunct to pharmacological, psychotherapeutic, and exercise-based interventions.
Methodology
A systematic search of PubMed and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure was conducted for studies published between 2015 and 2024 using English and Chinese keywords. Eligible studies examined Baduanjin interventions for depressive symptoms and met criteria for peer-reviewed clinical research. Sixteen studies were included, and qualitative synthesis was performed.
Results
Evidence indicates that Baduanjin effectively reduces depressive symptoms, alleviates anxiety, and improves quality of life across diverse populations. As a stand-alone therapy, it enhances mood and sleep quality, while adjunctive use with antidepressants, psychotherapy, or other modalities produces superior outcomes compared with single treatments. Safety analyses consistently reported minimal adverse events, highlighting its feasibility as a low-risk intervention.
Conclusions
Baduanjin demonstrates significant potential as an effective, safe, and scalable therapy for depression. However, most studies remain limited by small samples, short follow-up periods, and heterogeneous protocols. Future research should pursue larger, standardized, and long-term trials to strengthen the evidence base and inform global clinical adoption.