Yoga on Our Minds: A Systematic Review of Yoga for Neuropsychiatric Disorders Feasibility, acceptability, and effects of gentle Hatha yoga for women with major depression: findings from a randomized controlled mixed-methods study. Adjunctive yoga v. health education for persistent major depression: a randomized controlled trial. A yoga intervention for young adults with elevated symptoms of depression. Iyengar Yoga for Distressed Women: A 3-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial Efficacy of yoga as an add-on treatment for in-patients with functional psychotic disorder Effects of weekly one-hour Hatha yoga therapy on resilience and stress levels in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: an eight-week randomized controlled trial. Treating major depression with yoga: A prospective, randomized, controlled pilot trial Open Trial of Vinyasa Yoga for Persistently Depressed Individuals: Evidence of Feasibility and Acceptability The influence of Hatha yoga as an add-on treatment in major depression on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis activity: a randomized trial. Randomized Controlled Trial of Yoga for Chronic Poststroke Hemiparesis: Motor Function, Mental Health, and Quality of Life Outcomes Rapid stress reduction and anxiolysis among distressed women as a consequence of a three-month intensive yoga program. A Yoga Intervention for Posttraumatic Stress: A Preliminary Randomized Control Trial Randomized controlled trial of yoga among a multiethnic sample of breast cancer patients: effects on quality of life. Yoga as an adjunctive treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled trial. Overview of Systematic Reviews: Yoga as a Therapeutic Intervention for Adults with Acute and Chronic Health Conditions Therapeutic efficacy of add-on yogasana intervention in stabilized outpatient schizophrenia: Randomized controlled comparison with exercise and waitlist
Background : The dem and for clinical ly efficacious , safe , patient acceptable , and cost-effective forms of treatment for mental illness is growing . Several studies have demonstrated benefit from yoga in specific psychiatric symptoms and a general sense of well-being . Objective : To systematic ally examine the evidence for efficacy of yoga in the treatment of selected major psychiatric disorders . Methods : Electronic search es of The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the st and ard bibliographic data bases , MEDLINE , EMBASE , and PsycINFO , were performed through April 2011 and an up date d in June 2011 using the keywords yoga AND psychiatry OR depression OR anxiety OR schizophrenia OR cognition OR memory OR attention AND r and omized controlled trial ( RCT ) . Studies with yoga as the independent variable and one of the above mentioned terms as the dependent variable were included and exclusion criteria were applied . Results : The search yielded a total of 124 trials , of which 16 met rigorous criteria for the final review . Grade B evidence supporting a potential acute benefit for yoga exists in depression ( four RCTs ) , as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy in schizophrenia ( three RCTs ) , in children with ADHD ( two RCTs ) , and Grade C evidence in sleep complaints ( three RCTs ) . RCTs in cognitive disorders and eating disorders yielded conflicting results . No studies looked at primary prevention , relapse prevention , or comparative effectiveness versus pharmacotherapy . Conclusion : There is emerging evidence from r and omized trials to support popular beliefs about yoga for depression , sleep disorders , and as an augmentation therapy . Limitations of literature include inability to do double-blind studies , multiplicity of comparisons within small studies , and lack of replication . Biomarker and neuroimaging studies , those comparing yoga with st and ard pharmaco- and psychotherapies , and studies of long-term efficacy are needed to fully translate the promise of yoga for enhancing mental health Major depressive disorder ( MDD ) is a common , debilitating chronic condition in the United States and worldwide . Particularly in women , depressive symptoms are often accompanied by high levels of stress and ruminations , or repetitive self-critical negative thinking . There is a research and clinical imperative to evaluate complementary therapies that are acceptable and feasible for women with depression and that target specific aspects of depression in women , such as ruminations . To begin to address this need , we conducted a r and omized , controlled , mixed- methods community-based study comparing an 8-week yoga intervention with an attention-control activity in 27 women with MDD . After controlling for baseline stress , there was a decrease in depression over time in both the yoga group and the attention-control group , with the yoga group having a unique trend in decreased ruminations . Participants in the yoga group reported experiencing increased connectedness and gaining a coping strategy through yoga . The findings provide support for future large scale research to explore the effects of yoga for depressed women and the unique role of yoga in decreasing rumination BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to determine whether hatha yoga is an efficacious adjunctive intervention for individuals with continued depressive symptoms despite antidepressant treatment . METHOD We conducted a r and omized controlled trial of weekly yoga classes ( n = 63 ) v. health education classes ( Healthy Living Workshop ; HLW ; n = 59 ) in individuals with elevated depression symptoms and antidepressant medication use . HLW served as an attention-control group . The intervention period was 10 weeks , with follow-up assessment s 3 and 6 months afterwards . The primary outcome was depression symptom severity assessed by blind rater at 10 weeks . Secondary outcomes included depression symptoms over the entire intervention and follow-up periods , social and role functioning , general health perceptions , pain , and physical functioning . RESULTS At 10 weeks , we did not find a statistically significant difference between groups in depression symptoms ( b = -0.82 , s.e . = 0.88 , p = 0.36 ) . However , over the entire intervention and follow-up period , when controlling for baseline , yoga participants showed lower levels of depression than HLW participants ( b = -1.38 , s.e . = 0.57 , p = 0.02 ) . At 6-month follow-up , 51 % of yoga participants demonstrated a response ( ⩾50 % reduction in depression symptoms ) compared with 31 % of HLW participants ( odds ratio = 2.31 ; p = 0.04 ) . Yoga participants showed significantly better social and role functioning and general health perceptions over time . CONCLUSIONS Although we did not see a difference in depression symptoms at the end of the intervention period , yoga participants showed fewer depression symptoms over the entire follow-up period . Benefits of yoga may accumulate over time CONTEXT Yoga teachers and students often report that yoga has an uplifting effect on their moods , but scientific research on yoga and depression is limited . OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of a short-term Iyengar yoga course on mood in mildly depressed young adults . DESIGN Young adults pre-screened for mild levels of depression were r and omly assigned to a yoga course or wait-list control group . SETTING College campus recreation center . PARTICIPANTS Twenty-eight volunteers ages 18 to 29 . At intake , all participants were experiencing mild levels of depression , but had received no current psychiatric diagnoses or treatments . None had significant yoga experience . INTERVENTION Subjects in the yoga group attended two 1-hour Iyengar yoga classes each week for 5 consecutive weeks . The classes emphasized yoga postures thought to alleviate depression , particularly back bends , st and ing poses , and inversions . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Beck Depression Inventory , State-Trait Anxiety Inventory , Profile of Mood States , morning cortisol levels . RESULTS Subjects who participated in the yoga course demonstrated significant decreases in self-reported symptoms of depression and trait anxiety . These effects emerged by the middle of the yoga course and were maintained by the end . Changes also were observed in acute mood , with subjects reporting decreased levels of negative mood and fatigue following yoga classes . Finally , there was a trend for higher morning cortisol levels in the yoga group by the end of the yoga course , compared to controls . These findings provide suggestive evidence of the utility of yoga asanas in improving mood and support the need for future studies with larger sample s and more complex study design s to more fully evaluate the effects of yoga on mood disturbances Distress is an increasing public health problem . We aim ed to investigate the effects of an Iyengar yoga program on perceived stress and psychological outcomes in distressed women and evaluated a potential dose-effect relationship . Seventy-two female distressed subjects were included into a 3-armed r and omized controlled trial and allocated to yoga group 1 ( n = 24 ) with twelve 90 min sessions over 3 months , yoga group 2 ( n = 24 ) with 24 sessions over 3 months , or a waiting list control group ( n = 24 ) . The primary outcome was stress perception , measured by Cohen Stress Scale ; secondary outcomes included state trait anxiety , depression , psychological and physical quality of life ( QOL ) , profile of Mood States , well being , and bodily complaints . After three months , women in the yoga groups showed significant improvements in perceived stress ( P = 0.003 ) , state trait anxiety ( P = 0.021 and P = 0.003 ) , depression ( P = 0.008 ) , psychological QOL ( P = 0.012 ) , mood states being ( P = 0.007 ) , and bodily complaints well(P = 0.012 ) when compared to controls . Both yoga programs were similarly effective for these outcomes ; however , compliance was better in the group with fewer sessions ( yoga group 1 ) . Dose effects were seen only in the analysis of group-independent effects for back pain , anxiety , and depression . These findings suggest that Iyengar yoga effectively reduces distress and improves related psychological and physical outcomes . Furthermore , attending twice-weekly yoga classes was not superior to once-weekly classes , as a result of limited compliance in the twice-weekly group Context : The efficacy of yoga as an intervention for in- patients with psychosis is as yet unknown ; although , previous studies have shown efficacy in stabilized out- patients with schizophrenia . Aim : This study aim ed to compare the effect of add-on yoga therapy or physical exercise along with st and ard pharmacotherapy in the treatment of in- patients with psychosis . Setting s and Design : This study was performed in an in-patient setting using a r and omized controlled single blind design . Material s and Methods : A total of 88 consenting in- patients with psychosis were r and omized into yoga therapy group ( n=44 ) and physical exercise group ( n=44 ) . Sixty patients completed the study period of 1½ months . Patients who completed in the yoga group ( n=35 ) and in the exercise group ( n=25 ) were similar on the demographic profile , illness parameters and psychopathology scores at baseline . Results : The two treatment groups were not different on the clinical syndrome scores at the end of 2 weeks . At the end of 6 weeks , patients in the yoga group however had lower mean scores on Clinical Global Impression Severity ( CGIS ) , Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale ( total and general psychopathology subscale ) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale ( HDRS ) ( P<0.05 ) . Repeated measure analysis of variance detected an advantage for yoga over exercise in reducing the clinical CGIS and HDRS scores . Conclusion : Adding yoga intervention to st and ard pharmacological treatment is feasible and may be beneficial even in the early and acute stage of psychosis OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of Hatha yoga therapy on resilience , brain-derived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF ) levels , and salivary alpha amylase ( SAA ) activity in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders . DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS Single-blinded , r and omized controlled study in which out patients with schizophrenia or related psychotic disorders ( according to International Classification of Diseases , 10th Revision ) were r and omly assigned to a yoga or a control group . SETTING November 2012-April 2013 at Yamanashi Prefectural Kita Hospital , Japan . INTERVENTIONS In the yoga group , patients received weekly 1-hour Hatha yoga sessions , in addition to regular treatment , for 8 weeks . Those in the control group underwent regular treatment , which included a daycare rehabilitation program . OUTCOME MEASURES Assessment s included the 25-item Resilience Scale ( RS ) , Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale ( PANSS ) , plasma and salivary BDNF level , and SAA activity . RESULTS Fifty patients participated ( 25 in each group ; mean age±st and ard deviation , 50.9±11.3 years ; mean duration of illness , 25.0±10.3 years ; mean total PANSS score , 78.2±17.3 ) . No significant differences in changes in any variable from baseline to week 8 were found between the two groups ( changes in the yoga group versus the control group : RS score , -1.6±19.9 versus 0.3±17.2 ; PANSS score , 0.5±12.0 versus 5.0±15.6 ; plasma BDNF , 41.6±377.0 pg/dl versus 73.4±346.0 pg/dl ; SAA , -26.2±72.6 kU/l versus -13.8±68.0 kU/l , respectively ) . CONCLUSIONS Adjunct yoga therapy showed no positive changes in resilience level or stress markers . Duration and intensity of yoga sessions and the focus on patients with chronic illness may explain the negative observations in light of past positive evidence regarding yoga therapy Background Conventional pharmacotherapies and psychotherapies for major depression are associated with limited adherence to care and relatively low remission rates . Yoga may offer an alternative treatment option , but rigorous studies are few . This r and omized controlled trial with blinded outcome assessors examined an 8-week hatha yoga intervention as mono-therapy for mild-to-moderate major depression . Methods Investigators recruited 38 adults in San Francisco meeting criteria for major depression of mild-to-moderate severity , per structured psychiatric interview and scores of 14–28 on Beck Depression Inventory-II ( BDI ) . At screening , individuals engaged in psychotherapy , antidepressant pharmacotherapy , herbal or nutraceutical mood therapies , or mind-body practice s were excluded . Participants were 68 % female , with mean age 43.4 years ( SD = 14.8 , range = 22–72 ) , and mean BDI score 22.4 ( SD = 4.5 ) . Twenty participants were r and omized to 90-minute hatha yoga practice groups twice weekly for 8 weeks . Eighteen participants were r and omized to 90-minute attention control education groups twice weekly for 8 weeks . Certified yoga instructors delivered both interventions at a university clinic . Primary outcome was depression severity , measured by BDI scores every 2 weeks from baseline to 8 weeks . Secondary outcomes were self-efficacy and self-esteem , measured by scores on the General Self-Efficacy Scale ( GSES ) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale ( RSES ) at baseline and at 8 weeks . Results In intent-to-treat analysis , yoga participants exhibited significantly greater 8-week decline in BDI scores  than controls ( p-value = 0.034 ) . In sub-analyses of participants completing final 8-week measures , yoga participants were more likely to achieve remission , defined per final BDI score ≤ 9 ( p-value = 0.018 ) . Effect size of yoga in reducing BDI scores was large , per Cohen ’s d = -0.96 [ 95%CI , -1.81 to -0.12 ] . Intervention groups did not differ significantly in 8-week change scores for either the GSES or RSES . Conclusion In adults with mild-to-moderate major depression , an 8-week hatha yoga intervention result ed in statistically and clinical ly significant reductions in depression severity . Trial registration Clinical Trials.gov The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability and feasibility of Vinyasa yoga as an adjunctive treatment for depressed patients who were not responding adequately to antidepressant medication . The authors also planned to ask participants for qualitative feedback on their experience of the class and to assess change over time in depression and in possible mediating variables . The authors recruited 11 participants in 1 month for an 8-week open trial of yoga classes . They found that 10 participants completed follow-up assessment s , 9 of 10 were positive about their experience , and all provided feedback about what was and was not helpful about yoga , as well as barriers to class attendance . Over the 2-month period , participants exhibited significant decreases in depression symptoms and significant increases in an aspect of mindfulness and in behavior activation . This pilot study provided support for continuing to investigate Vinyasa yoga as an adjunct treatment for depression . The next step required is a rigorous r and omized clinical trial OBJECTIVES The impact of Hatha yoga as add-on treatment to quetiapine fumarate extended release ( QXR ) or escitalopram ( ESC ) in depressed patients on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal ( HPA ) axis activity was assessed . METHODS 60 in patients suffering from major depressive disorder ( MDD ) according to DSM-IV were r and omized for a 5 week treatment with Yoga or not ( control group ) and with either QXR ( 300 mg/day ) or ESC ( 10 mg/day ) . Serial dexamethasone/corticotropin releasing hormone ( DEX/CRH ) tests were performed to assess HPA axis function . The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale ( 21-HAMD ) was used weekly . RESULTS A more pronounced down regulation of the HPA axis activity due to yoga could not be detected . The stepwise long term cortisol reduction was seen in both medication groups , irrespectively of yoga add-on treatment . In addition , cortisol improvers in week 1 of therapy ( reduction in cortisol peak value within the DEX/CRH test ) reached significant greater amelioration of depressive symptoms after 5 weeks . CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that antidepressant agents down regulate HPA axis function to a greater extent than additional Hatha yoga treatment . Moreover , an early reduction of HPA system hyperactivity after one week of pharmacological treatment seems to raise the possibility of a favorable treatment response Abstract Purpose : To assess the efficacy of yoga for motor function , mental health , and quality of life outcomes in persons with chronic poststroke hemiparesis . Method : Twenty-two individuals participated in a r and omized controlled trial involving assessment of task-orientated function , balance , mobility , depression , anxiety , and quality of life domains before and after either a 10-week yoga intervention ( n = 11 ) or no treatment ( n = 11 ) . Results : The yoga intervention did not result in any significant improvements in objective motor function measures , however there was a significant improvement in quality of life associated with perceived motor function ( P = .0001 ) and improvements in perceived recovery approached significance ( P = .072 ) . Memory-related quality of life scores significantly improved after yoga intervention ( P = .022 ) , and those participating in the intervention exhibited clinical ly relevant decreases in state and trait anxiety . Conclusions : Preliminary results offer promise for yoga as an intervention to address mental health and quality of life in persons with stroke-related activity limitations . There is a need to more rigorously evaluate these yoga benefits with a larger r and omized controlled trial , which , based on this preliminary trial , is feasible BACKGROUND Emotional distress is an increasing public health problem and Hatha yoga has been cl aim ed to induce stress reduction and empowerment in practicing subjects . We aim ed to evaluate potential effects of Iyengar Hatha yoga on perceived stress and associated psychological outcomes in mentally distressed women . MATERIAL / METHODS A controlled prospect i ve non-r and omized study was conducted in 24 self-referred female subjects ( mean age 37.9+/-7.3 years ) who perceived themselves as emotionally distressed . Subjects were offered participation in one of two subsequential 3-months yoga programs . Group 1 ( n=16 ) participated in the first class , group 2 ( n=8 ) served as a waiting list control . During the yoga course , subjects attended two-weekly 90-min Iyengar yoga classes . Outcome was assessed on entry and after 3 months by Cohen Perceived Stress Scale , State-Trait Anxiety Inventory , Profile of Mood States , CESD-Depression Scale , Bf-S/Bf-S ' Well-Being Scales , Freiburg Complaint List and ratings of physical well-being . Salivary cortisol levels were measured before and after an evening yoga class in a second sample . RESULTS Compared to waiting-list , women who participated in the yoga-training demonstrated pronounced and significant improvements in perceived stress ( P<0.02 ) , State and Trait Anxiety ( P<0.02 and P<0.01 , respectively ) , well-being ( P<0.01 ) , vigor ( P<0.02 ) , fatigue ( P<0.02 ) and depression ( P<0.05 ) . Physical well-being also increased ( P<0.01 ) , and those subjects suffering from headache or back pain reported marked pain relief . Salivary cortisol decreased significantly after participation in a yoga class ( P<0.05 ) . CONCLUSIONS Women suffering from mental distress participating in a 3-month Iyengar yoga class show significant improvements on measures of stress and psychological outcomes . Further investigation of yoga with respect to prevention and treatment of stress-related disease and of underlying mechanism is warranted Yoga may be effective in the reduction of PTSD symptomology . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a Kundalini Yoga ( KY ) treatment on PTSD symptoms and overall wellbeing . To supplement the current field of inquiry , a pilot r and omized control trial ( RCT ) was conducted comparing an 8-session KY intervention with a waitlist control group .  80 individuals with current PTSD symptoms participated . Both groups demonstrated changes in PTSD symptomology but yoga participants showed greater changes in measures of sleep , positive affect , perceived stress , anxiety , stress , and resilience . Between-groups effect sizes were small to moderate ( 0.09–0.25 ) . KY may be an adjunctive or alternative intervention for PTSD . Findings indicate the need for further yoga research to better underst and the mechanism of yoga in relation to mental and physical health , gender and ethnic comparisons , and short- and long-term yoga practice for psychiatric conditions PURPOSE This study examines the impact of yoga , including physical poses , breathing , and meditation exercises , on quality of life ( QOL ) , fatigue , distressed mood , and spiritual well-being among a multiethnic sample of breast cancer patients . PATIENTS AND METHODS One hundred twenty-eight patients ( 42 % African American , 31 % Hispanic ) recruited from an urban cancer center were r and omly assigned ( 2:1 ratio ) to a 12-week yoga intervention ( n = 84 ) or a 12-week waitlist control group ( n = 44 ) . Changes in QOL ( eg , Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy ) from before r and om assignment ( T1 ) to the 3-month follow-up ( T3 ) were examined ; predictors of adherence were also assessed . Nearly half of all patients were receiving medical treatment . RESULTS Regression analyses indicated that the control group had a greater decrease in social well-being compared with the intervention group after controlling for baseline social well-being and covariates ( P < .0001 ) . Secondary analyses of 71 patients not receiving chemotherapy during the intervention period indicated favorable outcomes for the intervention group compared with the control group in overall QOL ( P < .008 ) , emotional well-being ( P < .015 ) , social well-being ( P < .004 ) , spiritual well-being ( P < .009 ) , and distressed mood ( P < .031 ) . Sixty-nine percent of intervention participants attended classes ( mean number of classes attended by active class participants = 7.00 + /- 3.80 ) , with lower adherence associated with increased fatigue ( P < .001 ) , radiotherapy ( P < .0001 ) , younger age ( P < .008 ) , and no  antiestrogen therapy  ( P < .02 ) . CONCLUSION Despite limited adherence , this intent-to-treat analysis suggests that yoga is associated with beneficial effects on social functioning among a medically diverse sample of breast cancer survivors . Among patients not receiving chemotherapy , yoga appears to enhance emotional well-being and mood and may serve to buffer deterioration in both overall and specific domains of QOL BACKGROUND More than a third of the approximately 10 million women with histories of interpersonal violence in the United States develop posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) . Currently available treatments for this population have a high rate of incomplete response , in part because problems in affect and impulse regulation are major obstacles to resolving PTSD . This study explored the efficacy of yoga to increase affect tolerance and to decrease PTSD symptomatology . METHOD Sixty-four women with chronic , treatment-resistant PTSD were r and omly assigned to either trauma-informed yoga or supportive women 's health education , each as a weekly 1-hour class for 10 weeks . Assessment s were conducted at pretreatment , midtreatment , and posttreatment and included measures of DSM-IV PTSD , affect regulation , and depression . The study ran from 2008 through 2011 . RESULTS The primary outcome measure was the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale ( CAPS ) . At the end of the study , 16 of 31 participants ( 52 % ) in the yoga group no longer met criteria for PTSD compared to 6 of 29 ( 21 % ) in the control group ( n = 60 , χ²₁ = 6.17 , P = .013 ) . Both groups exhibited significant decreases on the CAPS , with the decrease falling in the large effect size range for the yoga group ( d = 1.07 ) and the medium to large effect size decrease for the control group ( d = 0.66 ) . Both the yoga ( b = -9.21 , t = -2.34 , P = .02 , d = -0.37 ) and control ( b = -22.12 , t = -3.39 , P = .001 , d = -0.54 ) groups exhibited significant decreases from pretreatment to the midtreatment assessment . However , a significant group × quadratic trend interaction ( d = -0.34 ) showed that the pattern of change in Davidson Trauma Scale significantly differed across groups . The yoga group exhibited a significant medium effect size linear ( d = -0.52 ) trend . In contrast , the control group exhibited only a significant medium effect size quadratic trend ( d = 0.46 ) but did not exhibit a significant linear trend ( d = -0.29 ) . Thus , both groups exhibited significant decreases in PTSD symptoms during the first half of treatment , but these improvements were maintained in the yoga group , while the control group relapsed after its initial improvement . DISCUSSION Yoga significantly reduced PTSD symptomatology , with effect sizes comparable to well- research ed psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacologic approaches . Yoga may improve the functioning of traumatized individuals by helping them to tolerate physical and sensory experiences associated with fear and helplessness and to increase emotional awareness and affect tolerance . TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Trials.gov identifier : NCT00839813 Objectives . Overview the quality , direction , and characteristics of yoga interventions for treatment of acute and chronic health conditions in adult population s. Methods . We search ed for systematic review s in 10 online data bases , bibliographic references , and h and - search es in  yoga-related  journals . Included review s satisfy Oxman criteria and specify yoga as a primary intervention in one or more r and omized controlled trials for treatment in adults . The AMSTAR tool and GRADE approach evaluated the method ological quality of review s and quality of evidence . Results . We identified 2202 titles , of which 41 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and 26 systematic review s satisfied inclusion criteria . Thirteen systematic review s include quantitative data and six papers include meta- analysis . The quality of evidence is generally low . Sixteen different types of health conditions are included . Eleven review s show tendency towards positive effects of yoga intervention , 15 review s report unclear results , and no , review s report adverse effects of yoga . Yoga appears most effective for reducing symptoms in anxiety , depression , and pain . Conclusion . Although the quality of systematic review s is high , the quality of supporting evidence is low . Significant heterogeneity and variability in reporting interventions by type of yoga , setting s , and population characteristics limit the generalizability of results Background : Schizophrenia is a highly disabling illness . Previous studies have shown yoga to be a feasible add-on therapy in schizophrenia . Aims : The current study aim ed to test the efficacy of yoga as an add-on treatment in out patients with schizophrenia . Setting s and Design : The study done at a tertiary psychiatry center used a single blind r and omized controlled design with active control and waitlist groups . Material s and Methods : Consenting patients with schizophrenia were r and omized into yoga , exercise , or waitlist group . They continued to receive pharmacological therapy that was unchanged during the study . Patients in the yoga or exercise group were offered supervised daily procedures for one month . All patients were assessed by a blind rater at the start of the intervention and at the end of 4 months . Results : Kendall tau , a nonparametric statistical test , showed that significantly more patients in the yoga group improved in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale ( PANSS ) negative and total PANSS scores as well as social functioning scores compared with the exercise and waitlist group . Odds ratio analysis showed that the likelihood of improvement in yoga group in terms of negative symptoms was about five times greater than either the exercise or waitlist groups . Conclusion : In schizophrenia patients with several years of illness and on stabilized pharmacological therapy , one-month training followed by three months of home practice s of yoga as an add-on treatment offered significant advantage over exercise or treatment as usual . Yoga holds promise as a complementary intervention in the management of schizophrenia
With this caveat in mind , the results of the current meta- analysis suggest that hatha yoga does not have effects on acute , chronic and /or treatment-resistant mood and anxiety disorders compared to treatment as usual or active control groups .
However , when compared to psychoeducation , hatha yoga showed more reductions in depression .
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to systematic ally investigate the effectiveness of hatha yoga in treating acute , chronic and /or treatment-resistant mood and anxiety disorders .