Efficacy of Heartfulness Meditation as Adjunctive Therapy for Moderate to Severe Psoriasis: A Randomised Controlled Trial.
Prabhakaran Nagendran, Senthil K Subramanian, Vidya D Sripad, Rajathi Rajendran, Hima Gopinath, Kode L Sravanthi, Haritha Thiruveedhula
Indian journal of dermatology 2026 DOI: 10.4103/ijd.ijd_858_24 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 50 |
| Population | Adults (18-60 years) with moderate to severe psoriasis (PASI ≥10 or BSA involvement ≥10%) at a dermatology outpatient department in India |
| Interventions | Heartfulness meditation Methotrexate |
| Dose | 7.5 mg to 25 mg weekly (methotrexate) |
| Duration | 4 months |
| Measures | Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), body surface area (BSA), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), serum cortisol, IL-6 |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Heartfulness meditation Pasi 75 Psqi Methotrexate Psoriasis Stress reduction |
| Key findings | PASI 75 was achieved in 61.1% of the intervention group versus 52.38% of the control group, a difference that was not statistically significant. Trends toward better improvements in BSA, DLQI, PSS, and PSQI were observed in the intervention group, though not significant. Both groups showed reductions in serum cortisol and IL-6, with slightly greater reductions in the intervention group. |
Abstract
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition significantly impacting quality of life. Traditional treatments, such as methotrexate, are effective but often have side effects and do not address psychosocial stressors. Heartfulness meditation, which emphasises relaxation and self-awareness, may complement standard treatments by reducing stress. The primary objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of heartfulness meditation as an adjunct to methotrexate in achieving a 75% reduction in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75) at 4 months. Secondary objectives included changes in body surface area (BSA), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and biomarkers (serum cortisol and IL-6 levels). This randomised controlled trial was conducted at the dermatology outpatient department of the institute, India, involving 50 adults (18-60 years) with moderate to severe psoriasis (PASI ≥10 or BSA involvement ≥10%). Participants were randomised into two groups: the intervention group (n = 25) received heartfulness meditation alongside methotrexate (7.5 mg to 25 mg weekly), while the control group (n = 25) received methotrexate alone. Randomisation used a computer-generated sequence, with blinding applied to outcome assessors and data analysts. Of the 50 participants randomised, 44 were included in the final analysis. PASI 75 was achieved in 61.1% of the intervention group compared to 52.38% in the control group (P = 0.548). Trends towards better improvements in BSA, DLQI, PSS, and PSQI were observed in the intervention group, though not statistically significant. Both groups showed reductions in serum cortisol and IL-6 levels, with slightly greater reductions in the intervention group. No adverse events related to heartfulness meditation were reported. Heartfulness meditation may offer additional benefits when combined with methotrexate for treating moderate to severe psoriasis, though findings were not statistically significant. Larger studies are needed to confirm these results.
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
Cites 7
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin May 14, 2012
- Heartfulness Meditation: A Yogic and Neuroscientific Perspective Frontiers in Psychology May 10, 2022
- Impact of Heartfulness meditation practice on anxiety, perceived stress, well-being, and telomere length. Frontiers in Psychology 2023
- Mindfulness and Meditation for Psoriasis: A Systematic Review Dermatologic Therapy September 14, 2022
and 2 more in the library