96 Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies March 2011 16(1)
䊏 Shannahoff-Khalsa DS (Ed.) Kundalini Yoga Medi-
tation for Complex Psychiatric Disorders
London: WW Norton and Co. Ltd., 2010. 416 pages.
£31.00.
ISBN 978-0393705683 (Hardback)
Reviewed by P Posadzki, Exeter, UK fct_1065 96..98
This book, which is primarily aimed at healthcare
professionals, is about Kundalini yoga meditation,
and its application in the management of complex
psychiatric disorders. The book outlines the defini-
tions, categorisations, classifications, diagnostic fea-
tures and prevalence rates of several psychiatric
disorders. The results of pertinent randomised con-
trolled trials of conventional medicine (mainly
drugs) and the adverse effects of those drugs are also
emphasised. The book thus covers most of the topics
expected of a psychiatric text. The strengths of the
book are the application of well-defined concepts of
psychiatric disorders, the recognition of their com-
plexity and multidimensionality and the important
discussion of psychiatric disorder prevention.
Unfortunately, the book has several weaknesses. No
clear introduction to Kundalini yoga is provided, and
there is a lack of sound evidence of the effectiveness of
yoga for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. The
book is full of grandiose ‘save the world’ perspectives,
rich in case studies and the author’s own subjective
point of view and personal experience in dealing with
patients with psychiatric disorders. The text is written
in a mixture of formal (scientific) and informal (lay)
language. Both the author’s terminology and the
information provided are at times vague and unclear.
The book also lacks a critical appraisal of the included
studies. Several relevant randomised controlled trials
of yoga and psychiatric disorders from the past 5 years
were also missing. In conclusion, this is an interesting
book for ‘insiders’, but not a ‘must buy’ for everyone.