Review Yoga in schizophrenia: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials Vancampfort D, Vansteelandt K, Scheewe T, Probst M, Knapen J, De Herdt A, De Hert M. Yoga in schizophrenia: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of yoga as a complementary treatment on general psychopathology, positive and negative symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQL) for people with schizophrenia. Method: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were considered whether they investigated a yoga intervention in patients with schizophrenia. The selection of studies, data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. Results: Only three RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Lower Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total scores and subscale scores for positive and negative symptoms were obtained after yoga compared with exercise or waiting list control conditions. In the same way, the physical, psychological, social and environmental HRQL as measured with the abbreviated version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) increased more significantly after yoga than after exercise or waiting list control conditions. None of the RCTS encountered adverse events. Dose–response relationships could, however, not be determined. Conclusion: Although the number of RCTs included in this review was limited, results indicated that yoga therapy can be an useful add-on treatment to reduce general psychopathology and positive and negative symptoms. In the same way, HRQL improved in those antipsychotic- stabilised patients with schizophrenia following yoga. D. Vancampfort 1,2 , K. Vansteelandt 1 , T. Scheewe 3 , M. Probst 1,2 , J. Knapen 1,2 , A. De Herdt 1,2 , M. De Hert 1 1 University Psychiatric Centre Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Campus Kortenberg, Kortenberg, Belgium, 2 Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium and 3 University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands Key words: physical exercise; rehabilitation; review of the literature; schizophrenia D. Vancampfort, University Psychiatric Centre Catholic University Leuven, Campus Kortenberg, Leu- vensesteenweg 517, B-3070 Kortenberg, Belgium. E-mail: davy.vancampfort@uc-kortenberg.be Accepted for publication March 9, 2012 Summations • This systematic review is the first to demonstrate the efficacy of yoga in reducing general psychopathology and negative and positive symptoms and improving health-related quality of life in patients with schizophrenia. • All the available RCTs were published in the last 5 years, which indicates that researchers start to respond to calls for greater methodological rigour in yoga research. Considerations • Because of the limited number of RCTS that could be included, no formal meta-analysis was performed, but should be the target of future reviews if more studies become available. • The underlying mechanisms for the beneficial effects of yoga in patients with schizophrenia need to be studied more in detail. • Future research needs to examine the optimal dose of yoga treatment required to achieve improvements in schizophrenia-related outcomes. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2012: 126: 12–20 All rights reserved DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2012.01865.x Ó 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA 12