Abstract
Aim
To study the feasibility and effectiveness of yoga in waitlisted schizophrenia patients recruited under the project “Efficacy of Yoga as add-on treatment in Schizophrenia”.
Method
Schizophrenia patients stabilized on antipsychotic medications were recruited from the outpatient Psychiatry Department at NIMHANS. Out of 37 waitlisted patients, 14 patients who gave consent to receive yoga after the project period. Their age ranged from 21-51 years, with 10 male & 4 female patients. Patients with Co-morbid psychiatric, medical & neurological illness were excluded. They were followed up regularly for a period of 4 months when they were in waitlist group in the project. They were then given yoga training by a trained yoga instructor. The Yoga module taught included asanas, pranayama and relaxation techniques. The patients were taught supervised practices for one hour daily, six days a week for four weeks. They were assessed with Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Vedic Personality Inventory (VPI) at baseline, 1st month of follow up, pre yoga (4th month in the study) and post yoga intervention. Yoga performance of the patients was assessed after four weeks of intervention.
Results
Patients were able to follow the yoga practices and felt that they were able to perform >50% without any difficulties in Shalabhasana, QRT & Nadanusandhana (A, U, M and OM chanting). Yoga instructor’s assessment of performance showed that they did well (>50%) in Mukhadhouti, Twisting, Vakrasana, Shalabhasana, Navasana, Nadishuddhi, Thoracic Breathing & Nadanusandhana (A, U, M and OM chanting). There was no significant change in the gunas. Analysis of pre & post yoga intervention PANSS scores showed improvement in positive symptoms after yoga intervention, with a trend level of statistical significance (p=0.056). When baseline & pre yoga intervention scores were analyzed there was no significant differences, but when baseline & post yoga intervention scores were analyzed, there was a significant decrease in negative symptoms (p=0.014) & total PANSS score (p=0.022). This shows that the improvement noted between baseline and post yoga, is due to the yoga intervention.
Conclusions
Schizophrenia patients can practice yoga well. Yoga as add on treatment in schizophrenia improves psychopathological symptoms, particularly negative symptoms. Yoga can be effective as add on treatment in patients with schizophrenia.
Keywords
Yoga
Schizophrenia
Gunas.
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