Does Yoga Have a Role in Schizophrenia Management?

Abstract

Purpose of review: To review the efficacy of add-on yoga therapy in improving symptoms of schizophrenia and quality of life and examine the possible underlying biological mechanisms of yoga in schizophrenia.

Recent findings: Quality of life, cognitive symptoms, and negative symptoms have been found to improve with add-on yoga therapy in schizophrenia (pooled mean effect size 0.8, 0.6, and 0.4, respectively). Yoga also seems to have a small effect on improving positive symptoms. Less explored areas include adverse effects of yoga itself as well as its effects on antipsychotic-induced complications. Preliminary findings suggest that the effects of yoga may be mediated by neurohormonal mechanisms and functional changes in brain activity. Add-on yoga therapy is a potential treatment option for improving quality of life, cognitive symptoms, and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Future studies should explore efficacy in multicentric trials as well as possible neurobiological changes underlying the effects.

Keywords: Management; Mechanisms; Psychopathology; Quality of life; Schizophrenia; Yoga.