Effects of Yoga on Schizophrenic Patients - All You Need to Know

Introduction:

Yoga is a form of science that benefits people in multiple ways when it comes to the mind, body, health, and discipline. In schizophrenia, yoga is a heterogeneous practice that is seen to calm the patients by reducing stress, relieving their symptoms, and thus enhancing their quality of life. With deep meditation and calm poses, yoga de-stresses the patient to a greater extent. Yoga is preferred as a therapy for schizophrenia because of its proven results in the intervention of psychiatric disorders.

What Is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a common, complex chronic mental health condition characterized by disorientation and lack of awareness of one's surroundings, as well as impaired cognitive functions such as uncoordinated speech and behavior, false beliefs (delusions), hallucinations, and social withdrawal associated with paranoia. The condition also impairs a person's ability to concentrate and perform daily activities, and it affects 0.6 percent to 1.9 percent of the population, with nearly five patients per 1000 cases. Males and females are equally affected, with males experiencing episodes in their early twenties and females experiencing them in their late twenties and early thirties. Schizophrenia is caused by an imbalance in neurochemicals caused by an increase or decrease in the levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, glutamate, and serotonin. Schizophrenia occurs due to multiple causes like the result of a variant triggering factors, such as hereditary, childhood trauma, and environmental factors.

How Is Schizophrenia Clinically Seen?

The following are the clinical characteristics of schizophrenia:

• Abnormal psychotic behavior episodes.

• Social withdrawal occurs when a person avoids people or crowded gatherings.

• Hallucinations are clinical conditions in which people perceive things that are not real.

• Delusions are a type of mental illness characterized by unrealistic or false beliefs.

• Body movements that are disoriented

What Is the Role of Yoga in Schizophrenic Patients?

Yoga practice focuses on uniting the body and mind, and this factor has been widely used as a therapy source for various health conditions. Although schizophrenia is medically managed, the condition frequently exhibits a relapse in the mental state. However, yoga, as an alternative or an adjunct, has been shown to reduce stress and improve human cognitive function. According to research on yoga and its effects on mental health conditions, yoga is used as a complementary aid in the treatment of schizophrenia. Yoga as therapy aids in reducing the fluctuation between positive and negative symptoms, improving the quality of life in schizophrenia patients.

According to the clinical research and studies conducted on schizophrenic patients in the years 2012 and 2019, yoga was proven to be beneficial in conditions like depression, improving cognitive and psychotic symptoms, promoting oxytocin levels, and thus improving the patient's quality of life. The interventions based on yoga also reduced negative symptoms like lack of motivation to perform, social withdrawal, balancing emotional recognition disabilities, etc.

What Is the Clinical Significance of Yoga in Schizophrenic Patients?

The clinical significance of yoga for schizophrenic patients is as follows:

• Reduces the level of cortisol (a neurotransmitter that causes anxiety) in the blood and increases oxytocin, a calming hormone that balances the mind.

• Improves memory and orientation of the person.

• Reduces stress.

• Regulates and modifies the functions of the autonomic nervous system.

• Balances blood pressure and heart rate.

• Keeps blood sugar, cholesterol, and lipid levels in check as most schizophrenic patients show the incidence of diabetes, hypertension or cardiac problems, and metabolic disorders.

• Regulates sleep and improves physical health.

• Helps in lowering the intake of antipsychotic medications.

What Are the Yoga Practices to Be Considered for Schizophrenic Patients?

Some of the yoga forms or asanas that are known to be beneficial in the management of schizophrenic patients are:

• Pranayama and Dhyana: Pranayama and dhyana are two components of yoga that can be practiced individually or along with the asana, as they provide a calming effect on the body. Here, pranayama is a breathing exercise that practices breathing in the right way and as a therapy. Dhyana is meditation or regulating the mind, which is practiced along with breath control. Both pranayama and dhyana are proven to be effective in reducing the stress levels associated with schizophrenia.

• Hatha Yoga: This yoga is a type of preparatory yoga that involves both physical postures and breath control techniques that bring a calm and focused mind. It is one of the popular yoga forms and can be practiced by beginners as well.

• Iyengar Yoga: This form of yoga is a variation of hatha yoga that uses external properties like blankets, mats, or chairs. It comprises breathing techniques, sitting and standing posture, finishing with a body relaxation.

• Vinyasa Yoga: This yoga type is a form that involves dynamic movements from one pose to another. It regulates a flow of coordinated movements that gradually increases one’s heart rate. This yoga form increases a person's strength, endurance, and flexibility and improves concentration and a stable mind.

• Sudarshan Kriya Yoga: This asana means to gain proper vision or focus by purifying one’s actions. It is an advanced form of yoga that practices rhythmic, cyclic breathing at slower, medium, and faster paces, which helps to calm the mind and body of a person performing it.

Art Therapy for Schizophrenia:

It is noted that a person with schizophrenia may find it difficult to convey thoughts and feelings. Art therapy involves creative techniques like drawing, painting, sculpting, or collaging. These techniques may help express or convey thoughts and feelings. They can also help fight against side effects of psychotic medications like drowsiness and lethargy. These techniques help keep the mind active.

Researchers have found that these techniques help improve self-esteem and social functioning among those affected by schizophrenia. Hence, practicing art therapy with the help of a therapist may help reduce the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

What Are the Benefits of Yoga for Schizophrenic Patients?

The benefits of yoga for schizophrenia patients are:

• Improves cognition.

• Reduces anxiety.

• Reduces depression.

• Brings calmness in a person both emotionally and physically.

• Improves orientation and concentration.

How to Diagnose Schizophrenia?

The diagnosis of schizophrenia involves ruling out any other mental conditions and ruling out that the disease caused is not due to substance misuse, medicines, or medical conditions.

Diagnosing schizophrenia include:

Physical Examination: This examination is done to rule out any other conditions if present.

Tests and Screening: Certain tests help rule out conditions that are similar to schizophrenia. Magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography are considered to be done.

Mental Health Evaluation: Mental status is evaluated by a healthcare provider by observing the person’s behavior and looks. Healthcare professionals may gather information regarding thoughts, moods, delusions, hallucinations, substance use, potential for violence, or suicide. This includes family and personal history.

How to Treat Schizophrenia?

The treatment of schizophrenia can be done by lifelong treatment with medicines and psychological therapy. There is no cure for this condition, but its symptoms can be treated.

Medicines: Antipsychotics help control the symptoms by affecting the brain neurotransmitter dopamine. Other medicines that can be used include antidepressants, mood stabilizers, or antianxiety drugs. Even after the symptoms get better, medicine should be continued with the guidance of a healthcare provider.

Psychological Therapies:

• Individual Therapy: Talk therapy or psychotherapy helps improve patterns of thoughts.

• Social Skills Training: This helps improve social interactions and communication.

• Family Therapy: Family members learn how to deal with schizophrenia.

• Vocational Rehabilitation and Supported Employment: This type of training helps the person affected by schizophrenia to prepare for, find, and keep jobs.

Hospital stay: During a difficult situation, when the symptoms are severe, individuals affected by schizophrenia need to stay in the hospital for treatment.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): ECT is done for those who do not respond to treatment. In this type of treatment, the individual is given an electric current that passes through the brain, causing a therapeutic seizure. This can be given to those with depression.

Conclusion:

Although schizophrenia is one of the most commonly prevalent mental health conditions, the symptoms have been efficiently manageable with medical treatments and interventions like yoga. Yoga has greatly been proven to be effective in reducing the symptoms, along with a reduction in drug intake and relapses of the condition. Yoga is seen to provide a long-term impact and relief in calming a person's mind and managing schizophrenia. Yoga, along with other habits like art, music, drama, etc., are shown to calm the patient and greatly improve a person's thoughts with positivity, oriented cognitive habits, and social well-being.