National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (Research Foundation) (sVYASA) to treat and conduct research on schizophrenia. NIMHANS is experimenting with yoga to treat schizophrenia and is conducting an informed consent trial on the benefits of yoga.

'sVYASA' has deputed a dedicated consultant for the trial. The leads provided in the trial show early benefits for schizophrenia, which is a type of mental illness characterized by delusional thinking, hallucinations, and a lack of normal emotional response.

The trial study is yet to be completed but the research findings so far are being analysed and evaluated. 'sVYASA' has evolved a systematic and scientific research to help examine the efficacy of yoga practices and to develop yoga courses to treat schizophrenia..

"We anticipate that we will have enough data to continue our investigations into the nature of schizophrenia through yoga which will enable us to contribute to the development of safer, more effective treatment," Dr. BN Gangadhar, professor, department of psychiatry, NIMHANS told pharmabiz.com.

NIMHANS' association with 'sVYASA' has led the latter to develop modules based on various literatures like Patanjali and yoga sastras.

The modules have shown to provide relief to symptoms of schizophrenia, which include slowness, low motivation, weight gain due to drugs, lack of emotion or being apathetic and withdrawn.

The incidence of schizophrenia is one percent in the population worldwide. In a year, 5 per 1000 people between 20-30 years fall victim to the disease. Although the symptoms are the same for patients globally, research findings indicate that there are fine differences between cases in India and abroad. One of the key findings is that Indian patients have higher outcomes in schizophrenia and the reasons for this are still exploratory and speculative. While men are the usual victims of the disorder abroad, in India it figures more among women.

The Indian Association of Psychiatrists is of the view that schizophrenia can be treated and controlled and has decided to mark the World Schizophrenia Day, scheduled on May 24, with the theme 'Tackling The Stigma Of The Disease'. "The stigma has to go and doctors must highlight the fact that it is not an eternal disease and that patients can live with dignity despite the disorder. The stigma of schizophrenia is a barrier to those trying to rehabilitate themselves. It is also a real problem for their families,'' informed Dr Gangadhar.

According to Dr Gangadhar, for treating schizophrenia cases, the advent of new drugs for the treatment has proved helpful but still inadequate to tackle the disorder. Hence, he said, a combination of old and new drugs combined with a holistic approach, which includes patient education, rehabilitation and yoga are required to treat cases.