Effects of yoga on impulsivity in patients with and without mental disorders: a systematic review

• Published in: BMC psychiatry 2024-04, Vol.24 (1), p.267-8, Article 267
• Main Authors: Machado, Yuri de Castro, Oliveira, Mariana, Lima, Jogiely Larissa Ferreira, Bhargav, Hemant, Varambally, Shivarama, de Miranda, Débora Marques, Romano-Silva, Marco Aurélio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Addictions; Analysis; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - psychology; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - therapy; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Bipolar disorder; Bipolar Disorder - psychology; Bipolar Disorder - therapy; Borderline Personality Disorder - psychology; Borderline Personality Disorder - therapy; Care and treatment; Clinical trials; Diagnosis; Drug use; Females; Health aspects; Humans; Impulse; Impulsive Behavior; Impulsivity; Intervention; Males; Meditation; Mental Disorders; Mental Disorders - psychology; Mental Disorders - therapy; Mental Health; Mental illness; Mindfulness; Physical fitness; Placebos; Quality control; Quality of life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Self awareness; Substance abuse; Substance use; Substance use disorder; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; Substance-Related Disorders - therapy; Systematic review; Yoga; Yoga - psychology
• ISSN: 1471-244X; 1471-244X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05608-3

Yoga can be used as a complementary intervention to conventional treatments, whether pharmacological or non-pharmacological. Sustained practice of yoga can generate a series of benefits for individuals' quality of life and improve their physical fitness. To investigate the potential effects of yoga as an adjunct intervention in conditions involving impulse control issues, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), borderline personality disorder, bipolar affective disorder, and substance use disorders. We performed a systematic review of placebo-controlled, randomized trials of yoga in patients with impulsivity. PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct databases were searched for trials published up to January, 2023. Data were extracted from published reports and quality assessment was performed per Cochrane recommendations. Out of 277 database results, 6 RCT were included in this systematic review. To assess the level of attention and impulsiveness, the following scales were analyzed: Barratt Impulsiveness, UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior scale, Conners' Continuous Performance Test IIª and Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised: Long. Yoga didn't have a significant improvement in impulsivity when compared to placebo. There are many tools to assess impulsivity, but they mean different concepts and domains consisting in a weakness on comparison of yoga effects. CRD42023389088.