Impact of breathing and relaxation training (Sudarshan Kriya) on cases of alcohol dependence syndrome

Prateek Yadav; Kaushik Chatterjee; Jyoti Prakash; Neha Salhotra; Vinay Singh Chauhan; Kalpana Srivastava

doi:10.4103/ipj.ipj_117_21

Impact of breathing and relaxation training (Sudarshan Kriya) on cases of alcohol dependence syndrome

Ind Psychiatry J. 2021 Jul-Dec;30(2):341-345. doi: 10.4103/ipj.ipj_117_21. Epub 2021 Nov 23.

Authors

Prateek Yadav¹, Kaushik Chatterjee¹, Jyoti Prakash¹, Neha Salhotra², Vinay Singh Chauhan¹, Kalpana Srivastava¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
² HappyMindz, New Delhi, India.

Abstract

Background: Alcohol abuse is a public health problem and the course of alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) is known for its relapsing nature. Additional interventions with empirical evidence are worthy of consideration. Breathing and Relaxation Training, like Sudarshan Kriya (SK) is recommended for stress management, and have been shown to positively affect outcomes in stress-related disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of an intervention of Breathing and Relaxation Training, on drinking behavior in patients of ADS.

Methodology: Eighty in-patients diagnosed with ADS were included after obtaining informed consent, in this prospective study and were randomized into two groups. They were administered Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) at admission and 6-months after discharge. The Study group (n = 40) underwent a 6-day intervention of Breathing and relaxation Training (SK) apart from the standard therapy. "WHO-5 Well-Being Index" was administered before and after the training. The Control group was exposed to the standard therapy for ADS. A follow-up on a monthly basis and finally at 6-month interval was done to assess alcohol consumption status.

Results: Socio-demographically both the groups were comparable. The breathing and relaxation training (study) group had a significant rise in "WHO-5 Well-Being Index" (P < 0.001). There was a significant reduction in AUDIT scores after 6 months in both groups. AUDIT scores were significantly lower in the study group (11.20 ± 2.81) than the control group (15.30 ± 4.05) after 6 months (P < 0.001). The study group also reported fewer days of drinking (P = 0.004) and reduced overall drinking in the intervening period (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: The addition of Breathing and Relaxation Training (SK) in the management of ADS provided additional therapeutic benefits in the form of fewer days of drinking and reduced total alcohol consumption.

Keywords: Alcohol dependence; Sudarshan kriya; breathing exercise training; relaxation training; well-being.