Journal Entry

Assessing the Effectiveness of Yoga as a Complementary Therapy for Major Psychiatric

Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

In recent years, there has been growing interest in the use of complementary therapies for the
treatment of major psychiatric disorders. Among these therapies, yoga has gained popularity due
to its potential to improve mental health outcomes. As a result, there has been an increasing
number of studies aimed at assessing the effectiveness of yoga as a complementary therapy for
major psychiatric disorders. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the current
evidence on the effectiveness of yoga as a complementary therapy for major psychiatric
disorders.

Methods:

A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted to identify studies that evaluated
the effectiveness of yoga as a complementary therapy for major psychiatric disorders. Studies
were included if they met the following criteria: (1) randomized controlled trial design; (2)
participants had a major psychiatric disorder; (3) the intervention involved yoga; and (4) the
study reported on a mental health outcome. Meta-analyses were conducted to estimate the
effect size of yoga on mental health outcomes.

Results:

A total of 19 studies were included in the systematic review, with a total of 1,052 participants.
The results of the meta-analysis indicated that yoga had a significant effect on reducing
symptoms of depression (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.57; 95% confidence interval
[CI] = -0.87 to -0.28; p < 0.001) and anxiety (SMD = -0.62; 95% CI = -0.97 to -0.28; p < 0.001) in
individuals with major psychiatric disorders. Yoga was also found to have a significant effect on
reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (SMD = -1.18; 95% CI = -1.65 to -0.71; p <
0.001) and improving quality of life (SMD = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.19 to 1.02; p = 0.005).

Conclusion:

The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that yoga may be an effective
complementary therapy for individuals with major psychiatric disorders. Yoga was found to have
a significant effect on reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress
disorder, as well as improving quality of life. However, further research is needed to determine
the optimal frequency, duration, and type of yoga practice for individuals with major psychiatric
disorders. Overall, these findings suggest that yoga may be a promising complementary therapy
for individuals with major psychiatric disorders and should be considered as part of a
comprehensive treatment plan.