Yoga-Based Group Intervention for Inpatients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders-Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Outcomes of a Rater-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.
Inge Hahne, Marco Zierhut, Niklas Bergmann, Eric Hahn, Thi Minh Tam Ta, Claudia Calvano, Malek Bajbouj, Kerem Böge
Schizophrenia Bulletin November 16, 2024 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbae198 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 50 |
| Population | Inpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders |
| Intervention | Yoga-based group intervention (YoGI) |
| Duration | 4-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Body mindfulness Physical exercise Psychosis Psychotic disorders |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Yoga-based group intervention plus treatment-as-usual significantly improved positive symptoms, depression, cognitive fusion, and mindfulness compared to treatment-as-usual alone in inpatients with SSD. |
Abstract
The efficacy of yoga as an adjunctive treatment for schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) has garnered interest. While yoga may positively influence various symptom domains, further investigation is needed due to the limited number, quality, and generalizability of studies. This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability (primary outcome) of a yoga-based group intervention (YoGI) developed in a participatory approach and explored its preliminary effectiveness. In addition to the primary outcomes, this preregistered randomized controlled trial examined rater-blinded general psychopathology, positive- and negative symptoms, and self-rated depression, anxiety, stress, body mindfulness, mindfulness, psychological flexibility, cognition, social functioning, quality of life, and medication regime at baseline and postintervention as secondary outcomes. Fifty inpatients with SSD received either TAU (n = 25) or YoGI + TAU (n = 25) for four weeks. Outcomes showed 95% protocol adherence of YoGI, feasibility, and retention rates of 91% and 94%, respectively, and a dropout rate of 6%. ANCOVA revealed significant between-group postintervention improvements for YoGI + TAU in positive symptoms, depression, cognitive fusion, and a mindfulness subscale. Medium-to-large pre- to postintervention effects were found for body mindfulness, positive, negative, and general psychopathology, cognitive fusion, depression, anxiety, stress, quality of life, and attention in YoGI + TAU, while within-group changes were consistently smaller in TAU. No severe adverse events were reported. This trial supports the feasibility and acceptability of YoGI for inpatients with SSD and provides preliminary evidence of YoGI's benefits beyond TAU. Further robust, multicentric RCTs are warranted to deepen our understanding of YoGI's therapeutic potential and inform clinical interventions for SSD.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 5
- Breath of Life: The Respiratory Vagal Stimulation Model of Contemplative Activity Frontiers in Human Neuroscience October 9, 2018
- Mindfulness-based interventions for patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A systematic review of the literature. Schizophrenia Research February 1, 2024
- Mechanisms of action and processes of yoga-based group intervention for inpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders-A longitudinal qualitative study. Frontiers in Psychiatry February 7, 2023
- Mindfulness-based group therapy for in-patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders - Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of a rater-blinded randomized controlled trial. Schizophrenia Research January 9, 2021
- Meditation-based mind-body therapies for negative symptoms of schizophrenia: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials and meta-analysis. Schizophrenia Research October 1, 2019