A heuristic model linking yoga philosophy and self-reflection to examine underlying mechanisms of add-on yoga treatment in schizophrenia

Abstract

Preliminary evidence suggests efficacy of yoga as add-on treatment for schizophrenia, but the underlying mechanism by which yoga improves the symptoms of schizophrenia is not completely understood. Yoga improves self-reflection in healthy individuals, and self-reflection abnormalities are typically seen in schizophrenia. However, whether yoga treatment improves impairments in self-reflection typically seen in patients with schizophrenia is not examined. This paper discusses the potential mechanism of yoga in the treatment of schizophrenia and proposes a testable hypothesis for further empirical studies. It is proposed that self-reflection abnormalities in schizophrenia improve with yoga and the neurobiological changes associated with this can be examined using empirical behavioural measures and neuroimaging measures such as magnetic resonance imaging.

Keywords:

• Schizophrenia
• samkhya philosophy
• functional magnetic resonance imaging
• self-reflection
• yoga

Acknowledgement

The translations (if not otherwise specified) and the interpretative meanings on the Yoga sutra are taken from the following book manuscript: Swami Bodhananda, Yogasutras of Patanjali, Sambodh Foundation, (New Delhi: 2008)

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.