Study objectives:To assess the efficacy of Qigong for sleep and mood disturbances and relationships between pro-inflammatory cytokines and self-reported sleep and depressive symptoms among depressed persons with sleep disturbance using.Methods:173 community-dwelling subjects were recruited to participate ina randomized waitlist-controlled trial of Qigong for sleep and mood disturbances.Eight 3-hour weekly group sessions of Qigong training plus instructions for self-practice at least 3 times per week were provided.Outcome measures included Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI),Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1 β and IL-6 at baseline (T0),immediate post-intervention (T1) and 3-month post-intervention (T2).Results:Independent t-tests showed that Qigong exercise significantly improved sleep and reduced depressive symptoms and perceived stress as measured by PSQI (-1.7 vs-0.7,p =.014),CES-D (-5.9 vs-0.5,p <.001) and PSS (-2.9 vs-0.6,p <.001) and lowered IL-6 (-0.21 vs 0.70,P =<.001) and IL-1β (-0.08 vs 0.00,P =.002) at T1,compared with waitlist.Significant association was found between PSQI change score and reduction in IL-1β at both T1 and T2,but not with IL-6;while reduction in IL-6 was significantly associated with changes in CES-D and PSS scores at T1.Conclusions:Qigong exercise improves self-reported sleep and depressive symptoms and inflammatory state.The effects of Qigong on sleep may be related to a lowering in IL-1β,while its effect on stress and depressive symptoms may be related to IL-6.