Effect of Yoga, A Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) on Anxiety: A Literature Review

Abstract

Anxiety disorders are the most common form of psychiatric disorders in the US. They affect up to 40 million adults, or 18% of the population aged 18 and older. Anxiety disorders have a 60% comorbidity rate with depression. Our purpose is to reiterate the effect of yoga on anxiety A thorough literature research was completed utilizing PubMed, Cochrane, Medline, Elsevier, Psych Info as well as well as some psychiatric textbooks. Over 10 articles were selected with inclusion criteria of the terms anxiety, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and yoga. No exclusion data for a target population was included. These articles were then saved on Zotero, a free software available to collect, save, share and cite research articles. While historically, the goal of yoga has been to create a spiritual state of unity, it is also practiced to produce physical and emotional wellbeing. Research suggests that yoga can improve anxiety. Yoga not only limited benefits individuals with mental health disorders, but can also benefit those with physical disorders. The relevance of integrating yoga into the psychiatric nursing practice should be a priority. Due to its undeniable effectiveness in relieving the symptoms of anxiety, yoga must be integrated and promoted into psychiatric practice.