Washington, August 31 : Yoga is no longer just a traditional fitness exercise, but an effective therapy for psychiatric disorders as well.

Researchers recently completed a three-prong study comparing interventions as complementary treatment for outpatients with schizophrenia.

The results for yoga therapy, exercise, and a control group on a waiting list for treatment were compared. This study confirmed the efficacy of yoga over both other options.

Another study showed positive biological results, using the Sudarshan Kriya form of yoga as a sole form of treatment for depression.

The amplitude of brain electrical potential elicited by neutral stimuli increased over three months and reached that of healthy control subjects.

Plasma cortisol levels, which can indicate stress or illness, were lower in those receiving yoga therapy, paralleling a reduction in depressive symptoms.

The study has been published in the journal Biofeedback. (ANI)