A new meta-analysis found that yoga interventions improve self-reported symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) immediately after the intervention. However, no improvement was observed when symptoms were assessed by a clinician. These interventions also reduced both immediate and long-term symptoms of depression. Not all types of yoga were equally effective. The paper was published in Psychiatry Research.
Yoga is a practice that combines physical postures, controlled breathing, and meditation to promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being, as well as to reduce stress. Originating in ancient India, yoga practice not only increases flexibility and strength but also promotes relaxation. Because of these benefits, yoga has become widely popular worldwide. Some practitioners have developed therapeutic programs based on yoga, aiming to provide mental health benefits. These programs are referred to as yoga interventions.
Yoga interventions are used as complementary therapies to help individuals manage symptoms such as hyperarousal, intrusive thoughts, and emotional dysregulation. A common type of yoga-based intervention is trauma-sensitive yoga. This approach focuses on creating a safe, non-judgmental environment where participants are encouraged to reconnect with their bodies in a gentle, non-intrusive way. Techniques like controlled breathing and mindfulness meditation are central to these interventions, helping to calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety. Studies suggest that such practices may improve emotional regulation by modulating the body’s stress response and enhancing body awareness.
Study author Seyed Aria Nejadghaderi and his colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials examining the efficacy of yoga-based interventions for PTSD. Their goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions in reducing PTSD symptoms. PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, characterized by symptoms such as flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, hyperarousal, and emotional numbness.
The researchers searched scientific publication databases for randomized controlled trials examining the efficacy or safety of yoga for individuals with PTSD, published before March 2023. The search, conducted by two authors, included terms such as “yoga,” “asana,” “pranayama,” “Dhyana,” “Hatha,” “Jivamukti,” “post-traumatic stress disorder,” “PTSD,” “stress disorder,” “moral injury,” and “post-traumatic neuroses.”
To be included in the analysis, studies needed to use an experimental design, focus on adults with PTSD diagnosed using validated instruments, include a control group that received either no treatment or a non-yoga-based comparison treatment, and evaluate changes in symptoms as an effect of the yoga intervention.
The search identified 20 eligible studies, encompassing a total of 954 participants with an average age of 51 years. Of these participants, 60% were female. Sixteen of the studies were conducted in the United States, and 12 involved adult veterans. Six studies utilized Kripalu Yoga, five used simplified Kundalini yoga, five employed trauma-center trauma-sensitive yoga, and the remaining studies used other types of yoga.
The pooled results showed that yoga interventions significantly reduced self-reported PTSD symptoms immediately after the intervention. However, these effects were not sustained over time. When PTSD symptoms were assessed by a clinician, yoga did not show any significant improvement.
Yoga interventions also reduced depression symptoms compared to control groups, and these reductions were sustained over time. However, there were no significant decreases in anxiety symptoms or other types of symptoms.
An analysis by yoga type revealed that PTSD symptoms were reduced in participants undergoing interventions based on trauma-center trauma-sensitive yoga, Kundalini yoga, Satyananda yoga, and the Holistic Yoga Program. However, no improvements were observed in studies using simplified Kundalini yoga, Kripalu yoga, or Hatha yoga.
“Findings demonstrate yoga is generally a safe and well-tolerated intervention that may improve depressive symptoms in participants with PTSD and, to a lesser degree, also improve PTSD symptoms. Results suggest TCTSY [trauma center trauma-sensitive yoga], Kundalini, Satyananda Yoga, and HYP [Holistic Yoga Program] may be particularly efficacious compared to other types of yoga interventions and should be targeted in future research,” the study authors concluded.
The paper, “Efficacy of yoga for posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials,” was authored by Seyed Aria Nejadghaderi, Seyed Ehsan Mousavi, Asra Fazlollahi, Kimia Motlagh Asghari, and Dana Rose Garfin.