Scientific Research on Yoga > Disease and Disorders > Other Mental Health Conditions

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Other Mental Health Conditions Addictions, Substance Abuse, Trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Neuroses, Psychotic Conditions, Insomnia

Video Spotlight: Trauma

Watch this video to learn more about the research conducted on yoga and trauma.

Our hope is for yoga schools and yoga teachers to utilize this impactful content in their teachings to promote and highlight yoga's evident multi-faceted ability to improve lives. Let us know how research on yoga is important or valuable to you on social media (@YogaAlliance) or by emailing us at research@yogaalliance.org. We honor and value your personal experiences and look forward to featuring your stories.

These citations were curated by Yoga Alliance's Director of Yoga Research, Dr. Sat Bir Singh Khalsa.

Review Papers

Review Papers (What's this?)

Yoga for psychiatric disorders: from fad to evidence-based intervention?
Varambally S, George S, Gangadhar BN.
Br J Psychiatry. 2020 Jun;216(6):291-293."
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The effect of yoga on sleep quality and insomnia in women with sleep problems: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Wang WL, Chen KH, Pan YC, Yang SN, Chan YY.
BMC Psychiatry. 2020 May 1;20(1):195.
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Mind-body practices in schizophrenia - Opportunities and challenges.
Behere RV, Thirthalli J, Varambally SS, Gangadhar BN.
Schizophr Res. 2019 Oct;212:4-5.
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Integrative Body-Mind-Spirit (I-BMS) Practices for Schizophrenia: An Outcome Literature Review on Randomized Controlled Trials.
Wang X, Beauchemin J, Liu C, Lee MY.
Community Ment Health J. 2019 Oct;55(7):1135-1146.
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The effect of mind-body and aerobic exercise on negative symptoms in schizophrenia: A meta-analysis.
Vogel JS, van der Gaag M, Slofstra C, Knegtering H, Bruins J, Castelein S.
Psychiatry Res. 2019 Sep;279:295-305.
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Meditation-based mind-body therapies for negative symptoms of schizophrenia: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials and meta-analysis.
Sabe M, Sentissi O, Kaiser S.
Schizophr Res. 2019 Aug 1. pii: S0920-9964(19)30310-X.
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Yoga as an intervention for psychological symptoms following trauma: A systematic review and quantitative synthesis.
Nguyen-Feng VN, Clark CJ, Butler ME.
Psychol Serv. 2019 Aug;16(3):513-523.
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The Effect of Mind-Body Therapies on Insomnia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Wang X, Li P, Pan C, Dai L, Wu Y, Deng Y.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 Feb 13;2019:9359807.
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Role of Yoga and Mindfulness in Severe Mental Illnesses: A Narrative Review.
Sathyanarayanan G, Vengadavaradan A, Bharadwaj B.
Int J Yoga. 2019 Jan-Apr;12(1):3-28.
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Bridging Body and Mind: Considerations for Trauma-Informed Yoga.
Justice L, Brems C, Ehlers K.
Int J Yoga Therap. 2018 Nov;28(1):39-50.
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Mindful exercise versus non-mindful exercise for schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Li J, Shen J, Wu G, Tan Y, Sun Y, Keller E, Jiang Y, Wu J.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018 Aug;32:17-24.
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Mind-Body Approaches to Prevention and Intervention for Alcohol and Other Drug Use/Abuse in Young Adults.
Park CL, Russell BS, Fendrich M.
Medicines (Basel). 2018 Jun 27;5(3).
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A systematic review of randomized trials of mind-body interventions for PTSD.
Niles BL, Mori DL, Polizzi C, Pless Kaiser A, Weinstein ES, Gershkovich M, Wang C.
J Clin Psychol. 2018 Sep;74(9):1485-1508.
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Yoga for posttraumatic stress disorder - a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Cramer H, Anheyer D, Saha FJ, Dobos G.
BMC Psychiatry. 2018 Mar 22;18(1):72.
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Role of Yoga in Management of Substance-use Disorders: A Narrative Review.
Kuppili PP, Parmar A, Gupta A, Balhara YPS.
J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2018 Jan-Mar;9(1):117-122.
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Determining Psychoneuroimmunologic Markers of Yoga as an Intervention for Persons Diagnosed With PTSD: A Systematic Review.
Kelly UA, Evans DD, Baker H, Noggle Taylor J.
Biol Res Nurs. 2018 May;20(3):343-351.
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Yoga for Trauma and Related Mental Health Problems: A Meta-Review With Clinical and Service Recommendations.
Macy RJ, Jones E, Graham LM, Roach L.
Trauma Violence Abuse. 2018 Jan;19(1):35-57.
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Meditation and yoga for posttraumatic stress disorder: A meta-analytic review of randomized controlled trials.
Gallegos AM, Crean HF, Pigeon WR, Heffner KL.
Clin Psychol Rev. 2017 Dec;58:115-124.
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Yoga as part of a package of care versus standard care for schizophrenia.
Broderick J, Vancampfort D.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Sep 29;9:CD012145.
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Yoga versus non-standard care for schizophrenia.
Broderick J, Crumlish N, Waugh A, Vancampfort D.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Sep 28;9:CD012052.
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Assessing the Effectiveness of Yoga as a Complementary and Alternative Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Review and Synthesis.
Sciarrino NA, DeLucia C, O'Brien K, McAdams K.
J Altern Complement Med. 2017 Oct;23(10):747-755.
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Meditation for posttraumatic stress: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Hilton L, Maher AR, Colaiaco B, Apaydin E, Sorbero ME, Booth M, Shanman RM, Hempel S.
Psychol Trauma. 2017 Jul;9(4):453-460.
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Autism and Mind-Body Therapies: A Systematic Review.
Hourston S, Atchley R.
J Altern Complement Med. 2017 May;23(5):331-339.
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Yoga and substance use disorders: A narrative review.
Sarkar S, Varshney M.
Asian J Psychiatr. 2017 Feb;25:191-196.
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The effect of meditative movement on sleep quality: A systematic review.
Wang F, Eun-Kyoung Lee O, Feng F, Vitiello MV, Wang W, Benson H, Fricchione GL, Denninger JW.
Sleep Med Rev. 2016 Dec;30:43-52.
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Bending without breaking: A narrative review of trauma-sensitive yoga for women with PTSD.
Nolan CR.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2016 Aug;24:32-40.
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A heuristic model linking yoga philosophy and self-reflection to examine underlying mechanisms of add-on yoga treatment in schizophrenia.
Rao N, Menon S.
Int Rev Psychiatry. 2016 Jun;28(3):265-72.
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Bridging the schism of schizophrenia through yoga-Review of putative mechanisms.
Mehta UM, Keshavan MS, Gangadhar BN.
Int Rev Psychiatry. 2016 Jun;28(3):254-64.
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Relaxation Techniques for Trauma.
Scotland-Coogan D, Davis E.
J Evid Inf Soc Work. 2016 Sep-Oct;13(5):434-41.
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Yoga versus standard care for schizophrenia.
Broderick J, Knowles A, Chadwick J, Vancampfort D.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Oct 21;(10):CD010554.
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Yoga as the "next wave" of therapeutic modalities for treatment of insomnia.
Kennedy SL.
Int J Yoga Therap. 2014;24:125-9.
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Between inhale and exhale: yoga as an intervention in smoking cessation.
Dai CL, Sharma M.
J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2014 Apr;19(2):144-9.
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Mind-body practices: an alternative, drug-free treatment for smoking cessation? A systematic review of the literature.
Carim-Todd L, Mitchell SH, Oken BS.
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2013 Oct 1;132(3):399-410.
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A narrative review of yoga and mindfulness as complementary therapies for addiction.
Khanna S, Greeson JM.
Complement Ther Med. 2013 Jun;21(3):244-52.
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Mind-body practices for posttraumatic stress disorder.
Kim SH, Schneider SM, Kravitz L, Mermier C, Burge MR.
J Investig Med. 2013 Jun;61(5):827-34.
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Mind-body medicine for schizophrenia and psychotic disorders: a review of the evidence.
Helgason C, Sarris J.
Clin Schizophr Relat Psychoses. 2013 Oct;7(3):138-48.
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Yoga for schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Cramer H, Lauche R, Klose P, Langhorst J, Dobos G.
BMC Psychiatry. 2013 Jan 18;13:32.
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Clinical implications of neuroscience research in PTSD.
van der Kolk BA.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 Jul;1071:277-93.
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Notable Publications

Notable Publications (What's this?)

Online yoga to reduce post traumatic stress in women who have experienced stillbirth: a randomized control feasibility trial.
Huberty J, Sullivan M, Green J, Kurka J, Leiferman J, Gold K, Cacciatore J.
BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020 Jun 5;20(1):173.".
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The effects of mindfulness-based yogic breathing on craving, affect, and smoking behavior.
Lotfalian S, Spears CA, Juliano LM.
Psychol Addict Behav. 2020 Mar;34(2):351-359.
BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020 Jun 5;20(1):173.".
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#MindinBody - feasibility of vigorous exercise (Bikram yoga versus high intensity interval training) to improve persistent pain in women with a history of trauma: a pilot randomized control trial.
Flehr A, Barton C, Coles J, Gibson SJ, Lambert GW, Lambert EA, Dhar AK, Dixon JB.
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019 Aug 29;19(1):234.
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Psychological wellness, yoga and quality of life in patients affected by schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A pilot study.
Caponnetto P, Auditore R, Maglia M, Pipitone S, Inguscio L.
Ment Illn. 2019 Jun 17;11(1):8003.
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The use of mind-body medicine among US individuals with sleep problems: analysis of the 2017 National Health Interview Survey data.
Voiß P, Höxtermann MD, Dobos G, Cramer H.
Sleep Med. 2019 Apr;56:151-156.
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Meals, Mindfulness, & Moving Forward: A feasibility study to a multi-modal lifestyle approach in early psychosis.
Usher C, Thompson A, Griebeler M, Senders A, Seibel C, Ly R, Murchison C, Hagen K, Afong KA, Bourdette D, Ross R, Borgatti A, Shinto L.
Early Interv Psychiatry. 2019 Feb;13(1):147-150.
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Add-on Yoga Therapy for Social Cognition in Schizophrenia: A Pilot Study.
Govindaraj R, Naik S, Manjunath NK, Mehta UM, Gangadhar BN, Varambally S.
Int J Yoga. 2018 Sep-Dec;11(3):242-244.
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Effect of integrated yoga on anti-psychotic induced side effects and cognitive functions in patients suffering from schizophrenia.
Verma M, Bhargav H, Varambally S, Raghuram N, Bn G.
J Complement Integr Med. 2018 Jun 26;16(1).
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Yoga reduces the brain's amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations in patients with early psychosis results of a randomized controlled trial.
Lin J, Geng X, Lee EH, Chan SK, Chang WC, Hui CL, Tse M, Chan CL, Khong PL, Honer WG, Chen EY.
Schizophr Res. 2017 Jun;184:141-142.
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Military-Tailored Yoga for Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.
Cushing RE, Braun KL, Alden C-Iayt SW, Katz AR.
Mil Med. 2018 May 1;183(5-6):e223-e231.
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Kripalu Yoga for Military Veterans With PTSD: A Randomized Trial.
Reinhardt KM, Noggle Taylor JJ, Johnston J, Zameer A, Cheema S, Khalsa SBS.
J Clin Psychol. 2018 Jan;74(1):93-108.
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A randomised controlled trial of adjunctive yoga and adjunctive physical exercise training for cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia.
Bhatia T, Mazumdar S, Wood J, He F, Gur RE, Gur RC, Nimgaonkar VL, Deshpande SN.
Acta Neuropsychiatr. 2017 Apr;29(2):102-114.
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Yoga for Adult Women with Chronic PTSD: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study.
Rhodes A, Spinazzola J, van der Kolk B.
J Altern Complement Med. 2016 Mar;22(3):189-96.
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Aerobic exercise and yoga improve neurocognitive function in women with early psychosis.
Lin J, Chan SK, Lee EH, Chang WC, Tse M, Su WW, Sham P, Hui CL, Joe G, Chan CL, Khong PL, So KF, Honer WG, Chen EY.
NPJ Schizophr. 2015 Dec 2;1(0):15047.
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A regular yoga intervention for staff nurse sleep quality and work stress: a randomised controlled trial.
Fang R, Li X.
J Clin Nurs. 2015 Dec;24(23-24):3374-9.
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Efficacy of Yoga therapy for the management of psychopathology of patients having chronic schizophrenia.
Paikkatt B, Singh AR, Singh PK, Jahan M, Ranjan JK.
Indian J Psychiatry. 2015 Oct-Dec;57(4):355-60.
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Impact of a Yoga Intervention on Physical Activity, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation in Women with PTSD Symptoms.
Martin EC, Dick AM, Scioli-Salter ER, Mitchell KS.
J Altern Complement Med. 2015 Jun;21(6):327-32.
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A Yoga Intervention for Posttraumatic Stress: A Preliminary Randomized Control Trial.
Jindani F, Turner N, Khalsa SB.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:351746.
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Yoga as an adjunctive treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled trial.
van der Kolk BA, Stone L, West J, Rhodes A, Emerson D, Suvak M, Spinazzola J.
J Clin Psychiatry. 2014 Jun;75(6):e559-65.
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Yoga for improving sleep quality and quality of life for older adults.
Halpern J, Cohen M, Kennedy G, Reece J, Cahan C, Baharav A.
Altern Ther Health Med. 2014 May-Jun;20(3):37-46.
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Frontal hemodynamic responses to high frequency yoga breathing in schizophrenia: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study.
Bhargav H, Nagendra HR, Gangadhar BN, Nagarathna R.
Front Psychiatry. 2014 Mar 24;5:29.
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Efficacy of yoga as an add-on treatment for in-patients with functional psychotic disorder.
Manjunath RB, Varambally S, Thirthalli J, Basavaraddi IV, Gangadhar BN.
Indian J Psychiatry. 2013 Jul;55(Suppl 3):S374-8.
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Efficacy of yoga therapy on subjective well-being and basic living skills of patients having chronic schizophrenia.
Paikkatt B, Singh AR, Singh PK, Jahan M.
Ind Psychiatry J. 2012 Jul;21(2):109-14.
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Therapeutic efficacy of add-on yogasana intervention in stabilized outpatient schizophrenia: Randomized controlled comparison with exercise and waitlist.
Varambally S, Gangadhar BN, Thirthalli J, Jagannathan A, Kumar S, Venkatasubramanian G, Muralidhar D, Subbakrishna DK, Nagendra HR.
Indian J Psychiatry. 2012 Jul;54(3):227-32.
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Adjunctive cognitive remediation for schizophrenia using yoga: an open, non-randomized trial.
Bhatia T, Agarwal A, Shah G, Wood J, Richard J, Gur RE, Gur RC, Nimgaonkar VL, Mazumdar S, Deshpande SN.
Acta Neuropsychiatr. 2012 Apr 1;24(2):91-100.
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Yoga therapy as an adjunctive treatment for schizophrenia: a randomized, controlled pilot study.
Visceglia E, Lewis S.
J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Jul;17(7):601-7.
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Effect of yoga therapy on facial emotion recognition deficits, symptoms and functioning in patients with schizophrenia.
Behere RV, Arasappa R, Jagannathan A, Varambally S, Venkatasubramanian G, Thirthalli J, Subbakrishna DK, Nagendra HR, Gangadhar BN.
Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2011 Feb;123(2):147-53.
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State anxiety, psychological stress and positive well-being responses to yoga and aerobic exercise in people with schizophrenia: a pilot study.
Vancampfort D, De Hert M, Knapen J, Wampers M, Demunter H, Deckx S, Maurissen K, Probst M.
Disabil Rehabil. 2011;33(8):684-9.
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Yoga therapy as an add-on treatment in the management of patients with schizophrenia--a randomized controlled trial.
Duraiswamy G, Thirthalli J, Nagendra HR, Gangadhar BN.
Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2007 Sep;116(3):226-32.
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Clinical implications of neuroscience research in PTSD.
van der Kolk BA.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 Jul;1071:277-93.
[ abstract ]