Effects of yoga on clinical symptoms, quality of life and social functioning in patients with schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Open accessAbstract
Background Yoga is gradually being explored as a potential complementary intervention in addition to psychiatric drugs for schizophrenia. However, there are conflicts on the efficacy of yoga for schizophrenia. This meta-analysis was aimed to evaluate the association of yoga intervention with reductions on clinical symptoms and improvements in quality of life (QoL) as well as social functioning among schizophrenia. Method Systematic literature search was undertaken to identify all RCTs that compared yoga with active or passive controls for patients with schizophrenia from inception to July 2023. The outcomes were measurements of positive symptoms, negative symptoms, QoL and social functioning. Random-effects models were performed to calculate the effect sizes in the standardized mean differences reporting as Hedges' s g statistic. Results 19 studies enrolling 1274 participants with schizophrenia were included. Yoga had a medium effect on positive symptoms in the short term (Hedges's g = 0.31) and small effect in the long term (Hedges's g = 0.18). Medium significant effects were also found on negative symptoms in both the short term (Hedges's g = 0.44) and the long term (Hedges's g = 0.35). Yoga had a significant impact on improving both total QoL (Hedges's g = 0.34) and social functioning (Hedges's g = 0.45) with medium effect sizes. Conclusions Yoga was associated with significant reductions on negative and positive symptoms, and significant improvements in QoL as well as soc…
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
These findings align with recent meta-analytic results.
“These findings align with recent meta-analytic results.59”
A meta-analysis noted that quality of life and social functioning are among the domains where yoga exerted sustained effects over the long term.
“This aligns with findings of a meta-analysis that noted the quality of life and social functioning among the domains where yoga exerted sustained effects over the long term,59 underscoring the need for future large-scale RCTs assessing the maintenance of the effects of yoga over more extended periods.”
A recent meta-analysis found medium-sized short-term effects of yoga on improving positive symptoms.
“These findings align with a recent meta-analysis, which found medium-sized short-term effects of yoga on improving positive symptoms.59”
Cites
Measuring inconsistency in meta-analyses
Higgins, J. P. T., Thompson, S. G., Deeks, J. J., & Altman, D. G. (2003) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7414.557 · Cited by 63,139 · see citing works
Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test
Egger, M., Smith, G. D., Schneider, M., & Minder, C. (1997) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.315.7109.629 · Cited by 56,722 · see citing works
Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions
(2019) · doi:10.1002/9781119536604 · Cited by 14,828 · see citing works
The PRISMA 2020 Statement: An Updated Guideline for Reporting Systematic Reviews
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., et al. (2021) · International Journal of Surgery · doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2021.105906 · Cited by 11,748 · see citing works
Cumpston, M., Li, T., Page, M. J., Chandler, J., Welch, V. A., Higgins, J. P., & Thomas, J. (2019) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.ed000142 · Cited by 7,218 · see citing works
EuroQol: the current state of play
Brooks, R. (1996) · Health Policy · doi:10.1016/0168-8510(96)00822-6 · Cited by 5,815 · see citing works
Skevington, S. M., Lotfy, M., & O'Connell, K. A. (2004) · Quality of Life Research · doi:10.1023/b:qure.0000018486.91360.00 · Cited by 4,686 · see citing works
The Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS): Conceptual and Theoretical Foundations
Andreasen, N. C. (1989) · The British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/s0007125000291496 · Cited by 1,532 · see citing works
McCutcheon, R. A., Reis Marques, T., & Howes, O. D. (2020) · JAMA Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.3360 · Cited by 1,481 · see citing works
The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS): rationale and standardisation
Kay, S. R., Opler, L. A., & Lindenmayer, J.-P. (1989) · British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/s0007125000291514 · Cited by 1,016 · see citing works
Milev, P., Ho, B., Arndt, S. V., & Andreasen, N. C. (2005) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.162.3.495 · Cited by 919 · see citing works
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Recovery in Schizophrenia
Jääskeläinen, E., Juola, P., Hirvonen, N., McGrath, J. J., Saha, S., Isohanni, M. K., Veijola, J. M., & Miettunen, J. (2012) · Schizophrenia Bulletin · doi:10.1093/schbul/sbs130 · Cited by 909 · see citing works
Fusar‐Poli, P., Papanastasiou, E., Stahl, D. R., Rocchetti, M., Carpenter, W. T., Shergill, S. S., & McGuire, P. K. (2014) · Schizophrenia Bulletin · doi:10.1093/schbul/sbu170 · Cited by 686 · see citing works
Barnes, T. R. E., Drake, R., Paton, C., Cooper, S. J., Deakin, J. F. W., Ferrier, I. N., Gregory, C. J., Haddad, P. M., Howes, O. D., Jones, I. R., et al. (2019) · Journal of Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1177/0269881119889296 · Cited by 607 · see citing works
Ventura, J., Hellemann, G., Thames, A. D., Koellner, V., & Nuechterlein, K. H. (2009) · Schizophrenia Research · doi:10.1016/j.schres.2009.03.035 · Cited by 564 · see citing works
Goldberg, T. E., GOLDMAN, R. S., Burdick, K. E., Malhotra, A. K., Lencz, T., Patel, R. C., Woerner, M. G., Schooler, N. R., Kane, J. M., & Robinson, D. G. (2007) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archpsyc.64.10.1115 · Cited by 396 · see citing works
Dauwan, M., Begemann, M. J. H., Heringa, S. M., & Sommer, I. E. (2016) · Schizophrenia Bulletin · doi:10.1093/schbul/sbv164 · Cited by 393 · see citing works
Duraiswamy, G., Thirthalli, J., Nagendra, H. R., & Gangadhar, B. N. (2007) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.2007.01032.x · Cited by 274 · see citing works
Stirling, J. (2003) · Schizophrenia Research · doi:10.1016/s0920-9964(03)00014-8 · Cited by 218 · see citing works
Yoga and physical exercise – a review and comparison
Govindaraj, R., Karmani, S. J., Varambally, S. S., & Gangadhar, B. N. (2016) · International Review of Psychiatry · doi:10.3109/09540261.2016.1160878 · Cited by 208 · see citing works
Impact of primary negative symptoms on functional outcomes in schizophrenia
Fervaha, G., Foussias, G., Agid, O., & Remington, G. J. (2014) · European Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2014.01.007 · Cited by 207 · see citing works
Lin, C., Huang, C., Chang, Y., Chen, P., Lin, C.-Y., Tsai, G. E., & Lane, H. (2013) · Schizophrenia Research · doi:10.1016/j.schres.2013.02.009 · Cited by 202 · see citing works
Behere, R. V., Arasappa, R., Jagannathan, A., Varambally, S. S., Venkatasubramanian, G., Thirthalli, J., Subbakrishna, D. K., Nagendra, H., & Gangadhar, B. N. (2010) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.2010.01605.x · Cited by 159 · see citing works
Symptomatic and functional remission in patients with first-episode psychosis
Verma, S., Subramaniam, M., Abdin, E., Poon, L. Y., & Chong, S. A. (2012) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.2012.01883.x · Cited by 149 · see citing works
Converting positive and negative symptom scores between PANSS and SAPS/SANS
van Erp, T. G. M., Preda, A., Nguyen, D. R., Faziola, L. R., Turner, J. A., Bustillo, J., Belger, A., Lim, K. O., McEwen, S. C., Voyvodic, J. T., et al. (2013) · Schizophrenia Research · doi:10.1016/j.schres.2013.11.013 · Cited by 145 · see citing works
Vancampfort, D., Probst, M., Helvik Skjaerven, L., Catalán-Matamoros, D., Lundvik-Gyllensten, A., Gómez-Conesa, A., Ijntema, R., & De Hert, M. (2012) · Physical Therapy · doi:10.2522/ptj.20110218 · Cited by 141 · see citing works
Yoga Therapy as an Adjunctive Treatment for Schizophrenia: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study
Visceglia, E., & Lewis, S. (2011) · The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine · doi:10.1089/acm.2010.0075 · Cited by 131 · see citing works
Schizophrenia: Overview and Dopamine Dysfunction
Abi-Dargham, A. (2014) · The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry · doi:10.4088/jcp.13078tx2c · Cited by 128 · see citing works
Gangadhar, B. N., Jayaram, N., Varambally, S. S., Behere, R. V., Venkatasubramanian, G., Arasappa, R., & Christopher, R. (2013) · Indian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.4103/0019-5545.116318 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Aerobic exercise and yoga improve neurocognitive function in women with early psychosis.
Lin, J., Chan, S. K., Lee, E. H., Chang, W. C., Tse, M., Su, W. W., Sham, P., Hui, C. L., Joe, G., Chan, C. L., et al. (2015) · npj Schizophrenia · doi:10.1038/npjschz.2015.47 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
Varambally, S. S., Gangadhar, B. N., Thirthalli, J., Jagannathan, A., Kumar, S., Venkatasubramanian, G., Muralidhar, D., Subbakrishna, D., & Nagendra, H. (2012) · Indian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.4103/0019-5545.102414 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
Yoga for schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Cramer, H., Lauche, R., Klose, P., Langhorst, J., & Dobos, G. J. (2013) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/1471-244x-13-32 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Saraswat, N., Rao, K., Subbakrishna, D. K., & Gangadhar, B. N. (2005) · Schizophrenia Research · doi:10.1016/j.schres.2005.09.008 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Schizophrenia: The drug deadlock
Abbott, A. (2010) · Nature · doi:10.1038/468158a · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Sabe, M., Sentissi, O., & Kaiser, S. (2019) · Schizophrenia Research · doi:10.1016/j.schres.2019.07.030 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Ikai, S., Suzuki, T., Uchida, H., Saruta, J., Tsukinoki, K., 藤井, 康., & Mimura, M. (2014) · The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine · doi:10.1089/acm.2014.0205 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Triptish Bhatia, A., Mazumdar, S., Wood, J. A., He, F., Gur, R. E., Gur, R. C., Nimgaonkar, V. L., & Deshpande, S. N. (2016) · Acta Neuropsychiatrica · doi:10.1017/neu.2016.42 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Ikai, S., Uchida, H., Suzuki, T., Tsunoda, K., Mimura, M., & 藤井, 康. (2013) · Journal of Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2013.07.017 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Persistent negative symptoms after first episode schizophrenia: A 2-year follow-up study
Üçok, A., & Ergül, C. (2014) · Schizophrenia Research · doi:10.1016/j.schres.2014.07.021 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
The Effect of Yoga on Functional Recovery Level in Schizophrenic Patients
Budak, F. K., & Ekinci, M. (2016) · Archives of Psychiatric Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2016.07.010 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Ikai, S., Uchida, H., Mizuno, Y., Tani, H., Nagaoka, M., Tsunoda, K., Mimura, M., & Suzuki, T. (2017) · Journal of Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.07.015 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Chen, Y., Yau, E., Lam, C. S., Deng, H., Weng, Y., Liu, T., & Mo, X. (2019) · Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research · doi:10.1007/s10488-019-00976-5 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Self-citationGäebel, W., Riesbeck, M., Wölwer, W., Klimke, A., Eickhoff, M., von Wilmsdorff, M., Heuser, I., Maier, W., Klosterkötter, J., Falkai, P., et al. (2013) · Schizophrenia Research · doi:10.1016/j.schres.2013.04.012 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Kim, M., Lee, Y., & Kang, H. (2023) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph20043719 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Rao, N. P., Ramachandran, P., Jacob, A., Joseph, A. A., Thonse, U., Nagendra, B., Chako, D. M., Shiri, S., Hassan, H., Sreenivas, V., et al. (2021) · Schizophrenia Research · doi:10.1016/j.schres.2021.03.021 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Scholten, W., Seldenrijk, A., Hoogendoorn, A. W., Bosman, R. C., Muntingh, A., Karyotaki, E., Andersson, G., Berger, T., Carlbring, P., Furmark, T., et al. (2023) · JAMA Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.1291 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Isaacs, A. N., Brooks, H. L., Lawn, S., Mohammadi, L., Vicary, E., & Sutton, K. (2022) · Schizophrenia Research · doi:10.1016/j.schres.2022.06.018 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Nordon, C., Rouillon, F., Azorin, J., Barry, C., Urbach, M., & Falissard, B. (2013) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/acps.12135 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Chen, Y., Lam, C. S., Deng, H., Corrigan, P. W., & Yau, E. (2017) · Psychiatric Services · doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201500255 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Self-citationMullapudi, T., Debnath, M., Govindaraj, R., Raj, P., Banerjee, M., & Varambally, S. S. (2023) · Asian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103636 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Chen, Y., Cao, H., Liu, S., Zhang, B., Zhao, G., Zhang, Z., Li, S., Li, H., Yu, X., & Deng, H. (2023) · Schizophrenia Bulletin · doi:10.1093/schbul/sbad043 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Self-citationCaponnetto, P., Auditore, R., Maglia, M. G., Pipitone, S., & Inguscio, L. (2019) · Mental Illness · doi:10.4081/mi.2019.8003 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Mental Health Services and Personal Recovery in California: A Population-Based Analysis
McBain, R. K., Collins, R. L., Wong, E. C., Breslau, J. A., Cefalu, M. S., Röth, E., & Burnam, M. A. (2020) · Psychiatric Services · doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201900204 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Chen, Y., Lam, C. S., Deng, H., Yau, E., & Ko, K. Y. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.671217 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Maurus, I., Wagner, S. A., Spaeth, J., Vogel, A., Muenz, S., Seitz, V., von Philipsborn, P., Solmi, M., Firth, J., Stubbs, B., et al. (2024) · European Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/j.eurpsy.2024.1766 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Suetani, S., Dark, F. L., Every‐Palmer, S., Galletly, C. A., O'Donoghue, B. N., Halstead, S., Keating, D., Korman, N., Lappin, J., Lawn, S., et al. (2026) · Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/00048674251406058 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Chauhan, S., Najaf, S. S., Lukács, G., Kinga, K. A., Karsai, I., & Prémusz, V. (2025) · Sports · doi:10.3390/sports13040114 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Use of yoga in acute mental health inpatient settings: A systematic review
Wu, C., Waldmann, J., McPherson, J., Korman, N., & Parker, S. (2025) · Mental health and physical activity · doi:10.1016/j.mhpa.2024.100666 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Wildgruber, D., Hesse, K., Eckstein, K. N., Richter, J., Eberle, M.-C., Kreifelts, B., Hawlik, L., Martus, P., Erb, M., & Klingberg, S. (2025) · Schizophrenia Research · doi:10.1016/j.schres.2025.05.030 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Hahne, I., Zierhut, M., Bergmann, N., Hahn, E., Ta, T. M. T., Calvano, C., Bajbouj, M., & Böge, K. (2026) · Schizophrenia Bulletin · doi:10.1093/schbul/sbae198 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Tan, G. X. D., Hartanto, A., Eun, Z. K. Y., Hu, M., Hsu, K. J., & Majeed, N. M. (2025) · Journal of Clinical Medicine · doi:10.3390/jcm15010187 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Perera, R. (2024) · The proceedings of sliit international conference on advancements in science and humanities · doi:10.54389/ipsd5146 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Bhatarasakoon, P., Han, M., Yu, X., Tao, X., Wang, L., Yodang, Y., Feng, X., & Hua, R. (2025) · International Journal of Mental Health Nursing · doi:10.1111/inm.70199 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Marques, P. C. F., Soares, L. R. F., Araujo, A. V. D. A., Monteiro, A. R., Batista, A. D. A. L., Pimentel, T., Calheiros, L. D. L., Padilla, M., Pacheco, A. L. D. G., Queda, F., et al. (2024) · Brazilian Journal of Health Review · doi:10.34119/bjhrv7n2-337 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Counseling Patients on Yoga With Cultural Humility to Improve Health Equity: A Guide for Clinicians
Wasson, R. S., Dietrich, K. M., Munjal, V., & Potts, A. A. (2024) · Journal of Health Service Psychology · doi:10.1007/s42843-024-00118-y · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Lundström, S., Kerekes, N., & Johansson, C. (2025) · International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being · doi:10.1080/17482631.2025.2509803
Giridharan, S. (2024) · Psychology and Mental Health Care · doi:10.31579/2637-8892/295
Hahne, I., Zierhut, M. M., Bergmann, N., Fässler, L., Töbelmann, L., Opper, F., Hahn, E., Ta, T. M. T., Calvano, C., Bajbouj, M., et al. (2026) · Psychiatry Research Communications · doi:10.1016/j.psycom.2026.100262
Tuncer, G. Z., & Kargın, K. (2026) · Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services · doi:10.3928/02793695-20260618-03
Fırıncık, S., & Arslan, N. (2026) · EXPLORE · doi:10.1016/j.explore.2026.103477
Bansal, B., Shivakumar, V., Gulati, K., Chikkanna, U., Holla, B., Bhargav, H., & Udupa, K. (2026) · Asian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2026.105115
- Authors
- Yin, J., Sun, Y., Zhu, Y., Alifujiang, H., Wang, Y., An, S., Huang, H., Fu, X., Deng, H., & Chen, Y.
- Affiliations
- West China Hospital of Sichuan University (CN)
- West China Medical Center of Sichuan University (CN)
- Shanghai Mental Health Center (CN)
- Mianyang Central Hospital (CN)
- Sichuan University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Deng, Hong
- Chen, Ying
- Venue
- Asian Journal of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2024-03
- Volume
- 93
- Pages
- 103959
- ISSN
- 1876-2018 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4391518703
- Cited by
- 15
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 4
- FWCI
- 1.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Asian Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Sichuan University West China Hospital
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Diversity and Impact of Dance
- Keywords
- yoga, schizophrenia, positive symptoms, negative symptoms, quality of life, social functioning, complementary interventions, adjunctive therapy
- MeSH terms
- Social Interaction, Humans, Quality of Life, Schizophrenia, Yoga, Meditation
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
