The Effects of Yoga on Cognitive Function in Neuropsychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Yoga has been increasingly utilized as a potential intervention to improve cognitive functioning in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders. However, evidence-based review is limited. Further, whether the observed yoga-related changes in cognitive function are systematically related to specific neuropsychological domains or specific neuropsychiatric disorders remains underexplored. Thus, the aim of this review is to systematically evaluate randomized controlled trials that objectively measure global cognitive function and/or other neuropsychological domains (e.g., attention, executive functioning, social cognition, etc.) in neuropsychiatric populations. Four broad clusters of neuropsychiatric disorder are discussed: focal neurobehavioral syndromes; major neuropsychiatric disorders; neurological conditions with cognitive, emotional, and behavioral features; and comorbid neuropsychiatric and neurological conditions.