Practice Innovations, Vol 9(2), Jun 2024, 119-131; doi:10.1037/pri0000226
Yoga has shown promise as a widely practiced, readily accessible, low-stigma, and cost-effective means of managing stress and anxiety. However, mental health professionals and individuals who struggle with diagnosed anxiety disorders would benefit from evidence-based guidance about the effectiveness of yoga to manage these issues. This review of the empirical research literature examined the clinical utility of yoga as a treatment for anxiety-spectrum disorders, focusing on quantitative, comparison-controlled studies of yoga interventions. Studies eligible for inclusion either utilized yoga as the primary treatment intervention or as an adjunct to conventional treatment approaches, such as psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy. As a whole, the current research evidence supports the conclusion that yoga interventions are likely to be effective as both a complementary and stand-alone treatment for patients with anxiety-spectrum disorders. However, to further substantiate the use of yoga as an alternative to conventional, evidence-based therapies, additional research is needed to determine the relative efficacy of these treatment modalities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)