Effect of Integrated Yoga as an Adjuvant to Standard Care for Panic Disorder: A Randomized Control Trial Study.

BACKGROUND: Individuals wrestling with panic disorder (PD) know all too well its debilitating impact. Sudden, intense fear episodes disrupt lives and erode well-being. Fortunately, integrating complementary therapies like yoga with standard treatment offers a glimmer of hope for improved outcomes. Yoga's unique blend of physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), and meditative practices holds promise for mitigating anxiety and fostering a sense of inner peace, potentially making it a valuable tool in the fight against panic disorder. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This study investigated the effect of yoga as an adjuvant to standard care for panic disorder. Sixty-four panic disorder patients of both genders previously diagnosed with panic disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria were randomly assigned to the yoga group (n = 32) and the control group. The yoga group participated in integrated yoga sessions lasting 60 minutes, five days a week, for 12 weeks. Both groups received standard care. Pre- and post-intervention data were collected for HAM-A and WHOQOL-BREF. RESULTS: The yoga group exhibited a significant reduction in HAM-A scores (Pre: 49.13 ± 4.55, Post: 13.53 ± 5.54, p < 0.001) with a substantial effect size of 7.02. Quality of life significantly improved across all domains (physical, psychological, social, and environmental) in the yoga group (p < 0.001), demonstrating effect sizes ranging from 4.11 to 4.57. Control group participants also experienced improvements, though less pronounced. Between-group comparisons revealed significant differences in anxiety reduction (p = 0.042) and quality of life enhancement (p < 0.001), favouring the yoga group. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that yoga can be a valuable complementary or alternative approach to traditional treatments for anxiety disorders.

A rare neurological complication of acute organophosphorous poisoning.

Organophosphorous (OP) compound poisoning is one of the most common causes for admission to the Medical Intensive Care Unit. The morbidity and mortality associated with OP poisoning is due to the action of the compound at the muscarinic, nicotinic receptors, and the central nervous system. Here is a rare case of extrapyramidal manifestations occurring in the intermediate phase of OP poisoning, use of amantidine led to subsiding of the symptoms.