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 Study

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.

Findings

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.

• Safety and Acceptability: Tai Chi was well-received and safe for participants.
• Short-Term Benefits: Small to medium improvements in negative symptoms and cognitive deficits were observed.
• Long-Term Limitations: These benefits did not last long-term.

Conclusion

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. However, more high-quality studies are needed, especially in Western settings, to confirm these findings.

Criticisms and Limitations

• The small number of studies and their location limit the conclusions.
• The benefits were not sustained over time, raising questions about the long-term effectiveness of Tai Chi in managing psychosis.