Role of yoga in the improvement of ‘Quality of life’ among the patients of schizophrenia

Abstract

Yoga has proven value in treatment of various psychiatric disorders like Anxiety, Depression and Obsessive compulsive disorder. But its role in improving quality of life, among Schizophrenics was not established thoroughly.
Present study was aimed to study the role of Yoga in improvement of Quality of Life among Schizophrenia patients.
70 Schizophrenic patients, diagnosed according to ICD-10 criterion were recruited and randomized into two groups. Group-A patients received only pharmacotherapy and Group-B patients received pharmacotherapy and Yoga. Response was measured and compared by using Quality of Life Instrument (WHO QOL - BREF).
Group-B patients, who received Yoga plus pharmacotherapy, had shown much improvement in all domains of WHO-QOL BREF scale. The improvement is more in psychological domain followed by social domain.
Schizophrenics, who received Yoga plus pharmacotherapy, had shown much improvement in all domains of WHO-QOL BREF scale. Studies like this with various forms of Yoga will improve the awareness in medical fraternity and Quality of life in patients.

KEYWORDS: Pharmacotherapy, Quality of Life, Schizophrenia, WHO QOL - BREF, Yoga