Yoga therapy as an add-on treatment in the management of patients with schizophrenia - a randomized controlled trial

Authors: Duraiswamy, G.¹; Thirthalli, J.¹; Nagendra, H. R.²; Gangadhar, B. N.¹

Source: Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Volume 116, Number 3, September 2007 , pp. 226-232(7)

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Abstract:

Duraiswamy G, Thirthalli J, Nagendra HR, Gangadhar BN. Yoga therapy as an add-on treatment in the management of patients with schizophrenia - a randomized controlled trial. Objective:

Treatment of schizophrenia has remained unsatisfactory despite the availability of antipsychotics. This study examined the efficacy of yoga therapy (YT) as an add-on treatment to the ongoing antipsychotic treatment. Method:

Sixty-one moderately ill schizophrenia patients were randomly assigned to YT (n = 31) and physical exercise therapy (PT; n = 30) for 4 months. They were assessed at baseline and 4 months after the start of intervention, by a rater who was blind to their group status. Results:

Forty-one subjects (YT = 21; PT = 20) were available at the end of 4 months for assessment. Subjects in the YT group had significantly less psychopathology than those in the PT group at the end of 4 months. They also had significantly greater social and occupational functioning and quality of life. Conclusion:

Both non-pharmacological interventions contribute to reduction in symptoms, with YT having better efficacy.

Keywords: yoga; physical exercise; schizophrenia

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2007.01032.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and NeuroSciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore 560029, India 2: Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (Deemed University), Banaglore 560019, India

Publication date: 2007-09-01