MATERIALS & METHODS

Patients

A mixed group of 23 schizophrenics (nine female subjects) aged between 25 to 48 years were initially included in the study. Seven of them were chronic schizophrenics. Twelve patients were on anti - psychotic medication at the time of assessment. All of them were staying at a halfway home. The patients were informed about the study and about the plan to introduce yoga in their program. They were encouraged to interact with the yoga instructor and to seek clarifications about any queries they had.

Design

Baseline assessments were carried out on 23 patients. Subsequent follow-up assessments were carried out after 4 months, 6 months, and 12 months. During this period all 23 subjects learned yoga and practised for 5 days per week. It was not possible to have a 'control' group who did not learn yoga, as the patients constituted a close community and excluding or including persons in any program was discouraged. Each subject was studied in a 30-minute session. Subjects were asked to relax (supine), with eyes closed.

Parameters

Polygraph assessments were made using a 10-channel polygraph. The electrocardiogram (EKG) was recorded using a standard limb lead 11 configuration. Respiration was recorded with a nasal thermistor worn at the nostril as a clip. Skin resistance was recorded using AgCl disc electrodes filled with electrode jelly, attached to the volar surfaces of the distal phalanges of the index and middle fingers of the right hand. A photo plethysmogram worn on the left thumb recorded the blood flow. Electroencephalogram (EEG) and electro oculogram (EOG) were recorded using conventions described elsewhere (6). EEG was recorded from the vertex (i.e. Cz), referenced to the left earlobe. EOG of left and right eyes were recorded on two separate channels.

Data extraction and analysis

EEG and EOG channels were scanned to detect (and exclude) any sleep episodes. Heart rate (HR) was calculated by counting the number of QRS complexes in successive 60 second epochs continuously. Breath rate was similarly obtained as the number of breath cycles in 60-second epochs continuously. The skin resistance level (SRL) in Kilo Ohms

TABLE 1:  Heart Rate (HR), Breat Rate(BR), Skin Resistance Level (SRL) & Skin Resistance Fluctuation Value (FV) In 11 Schizophrenic Patients At The Beginning & End of One Year. Values Are Group Mean (SD)

was sampled every 20 seconds. The difference between the highest and lowest value of a subject was the fluctuation value (FV). The data obtained at the end of 4 months and 12 months were compared to the respective base line data using the t test (paired).