Perspective of patients referred to Yoga center in a tertiary neuropsychiatric hospital: A cross-sectional retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Yoga has been extensively used as an alternative or complementary therapy in psychiatric disorders depending on the type and severity of the disorders. However, data related to perspective on yoga services and the benefits and adverse effects attributed to yoga by patients with major psychiatric disorders is lacking. AIM: The aim of the study was to assess feedback of the patients who attended yoga sessions at a Yoga center in a tertiary neuropsychiatric hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional retrospective study using a specific questionnaire to get feedback from patients referred to the NIMHANS Integrated Center for Yoga, at the end of their yoga training. RESULTS: Two hundred and one patients’ data were included in this retrospective study. Most of the patients were referred by the doctors. The yoga module for schizophrenia was most commonly utilized, followed by depression. On an average, patients attended 13 sessions. Most of them practiced yoga for 1–2 weeks and had missed less than 2 sessions. The great majority of the patients reported that practicing yoga helped them. Spearman correlation analysis revealed positive associations between improvement attributed to yoga and variables affecting quality of yoga services at the center, including the quality of yoga sessions attended. Overall health and sleep improvement also positively correlated with improvement attributed to yoga. A minority of patients reported adverse effects, although these did not lead to discontinuation. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective study of patients referred to a Yoga center in a tertiary psychiatric facility, the majority of patients with major mental disorders were able to practice yoga under supervision and reported significant improvement in symptoms with minimal adverse effects.