Tai Chi and Mental Health: A Glimpse into its Effects on Psychosis

Researchers recently took a closer look at how Tai Chi affects people dealing with psychosis. They wanted to see if this mind-body practice could help with symptoms, thinking skills, and overall well-being. Tai Chi is known for helping with stress and anxiety, but its role in serious mental illnesses like psychosis was unclear. The team followed strict guidelines to review existing studies. They focused on adults with psychotic disorders who participated in Tai Chi or Qigong programs. The goal was to see if these interventions made a difference in symptoms, cognitive function, and quality of life. The search for relevant studies was done in August 2024. After screening hundreds of papers, only six studies met the criteria for the review. All of these studies were conducted in Asia between 2012 and 2022. The good news is that Tai Chi was well-received and safe for participants. The results showed small to medium improvements in negative symptoms and cognitive deficits. However, these benefits didn't last long-term. The review suggests that Tai Chi could be a helpful addition to treatment for psychosis in Asian populations. There's some evidence that it might improve negative symptoms and cognitive function. But more high-quality studies are needed, especially in Western settings, to confirm these findings. Critics might argue that the small number of studies and their location limit the conclusions. It's also important to note that the benefits were not sustained over time. This raises questions about the long-term effectiveness of Tai Chi in managing psychosis.