Mind–Body Exercises for PTSD Symptoms, Depression, and Anxiety in Patients With PTSD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Lin Zhu, Long Li, Xiaozhi Li, Lin Wang
Frontiers in Psychology January 18, 2022 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.738211 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) |
| Interventions | Mind-body exercises Mindfulness Yoga |
| Duration | 8-16 weeks for mindfulness; 150-180 minutes per session once per week for yoga |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation Depression PTSD |
| Keywords | Meta-analysis Randomized controlled trial Cochrane library Depression economics Confidence interval Subgroup analysis Clinical psychology Medline Physical therapy |
| Citations | 43 |
| Key findings | Mind-body exercises significantly reduce PTSD symptoms, depression, and anxiety in patients with PTSD, with mindfulness being most effective for PTSD symptoms in those under 45 years of age. |
Abstract
Objectives: This study aims to systematically analyze the effects of mind–body exercises on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, depression, and anxiety in patients with PTSD. Furthermore, it intends to provide scientific evidence-based exercise prescriptions.
Methods: Chinese (i.e., China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, and Wanfang) and English (i.e., Web of Science, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE) databases were used as data sources to search for studies on the effects of mind–body exercises on symptoms associated with patients with PTSD from January 1980 to November 2020. After a rigorous screening, 16 eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in the meta-analysis.
Results: Mind–body exercises exerted a significant effect on PTSD symptoms [standard mean difference (SMD) = −0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.64 to −0.19, p < 0.001], depression (SMD = −0.35, 95% CI: −0.55 to −0.15, p < 0.001), and anxiety (SMD = −0.31, 95% CI: −0.74 to −0.12, p < 0.001) among patients with PTSD. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that 60–150 min per session for 8–16 weeks of mindfulness was more effective in improving symptoms in patients with PTSD under 45 years of age compared with other subgroups. For depression, 150–180 min of yoga exercises once per week was effective. For anxiety, the frequency, timing, duration, and type of mind–body exercises that are most effective in relieving anxiety in patients with PTSD cannot be determined at this time due to the limited number of eligible RCTs.
Conclusions: Mind–body exercises were found to be significantly effective in improving PTSD symptoms, depression, and anxiety in patients with PTSD. Therefore, they can be used as an adjunct to intervention for symptoms of patients with PTSD. However, this conclusion requires further confirmation through additional scientific and objective RCTs. Systematic Review
Registration: Unique Identifier: INPLASY2020120072 .
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on PTSD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Management of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms by yoga: an overview. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies July 21, 2023
- Efficacy of yoga for posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Psychiatry Research October 1, 2024
- Self-Reported Improvements in Comorbid Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, Depression, Anxiety, and Sleep Among Real-World Patients Receiving Medical Ketamine: Exploring the Role of Adjunct Therapies. European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation September 1, 2025
- Somatic Practices and Their Impact on the Emotional and Physical Well-Being of Women: Evidence, Mechanisms, and the Dotyk Method European Journal of Medical and Health Research May 26, 2026
- Yoga and the Mind-Body Connection Improving Mental Well-Being at the Intersection of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Yoga April 16, 2026
and 1 more in the library
Cites 11
- Sudarshan Kriya Yogic Breathing in the Treatment of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Part II—Clinical Applications and Guidelines The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine August 1, 2005
- Yoga Breathing, Meditation, and Longevity Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences August 1, 2009
- Effects of psilocybin on hippocampal neurogenesis and extinction of trace fear conditioning Experimental Brain Research June 1, 2013
- Breathing‐Based Meditation Decreases Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in U.S. Military Veterans: A Randomized Controlled Longitudinal Study Journal of Traumatic Stress August 1, 2014
- Effects of Meditative Movements on Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of Clinical Medicine August 1, 2018
and 6 more in the library