title: Yoga as an ancillary treatment for neurological and psychiatric disorders: a review.
abstract: Yoga is gaining acceptance as an ancillary medical treatment, but there have been few studies evaluating its therapeutic benefits in neurological and major psychiatric conditions. The authors reviewed the literature in English on the efficacy of yoga for these disorders. Only randomized, controlled trials were included, with the exception of the only study of yoga for bipolar disorder, which was observational. Trials were excluded if yoga was not the central component of the intervention. Of seven randomized, controlled trials of yoga in patients with neurological disorders, six found significant, positive effects. Of 13 randomized, controlled trials of yoga in patients with psychiatric disorders, 10 found significant, positive effects. These results, although encouraging, indicate that additional randomized, controlled studies are needed to critically define the benefits of yoga for both neurological and psychiatric disorders.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Hilary B
authors: HB
authors: Meyer
authors: Alina
authors: A
authors: Katsman
authors: Alexander C
authors: AC
authors: Sones
authors: Daniel E
authors: DE
authors: Auerbach
authors: Donna
authors: D
authors: Ames
authors: Robert T
authors: RT
authors: Rubin
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015013:Yoga / Q000523:psychology*