Effect of Qigong on Biological Indicators and Psychiatric Symptoms of Schizophrenics

Objective: Both biological measurement and psychiatric testing were performed to evaluate the effects of qigong on schizophrenics. Methods: Sixteen hospitalized patients diagnosed as schizophrenics were divided into two groups (qigong group and controls). The qigong training was done with qigong group for twelve weeks. The measurements were performed twice, before and after the qigong intervention. Result: Regarding biological indicators, the qigong group showed significantly lowering in cortisol. On the other hand, epinephrine was significantly elevated only in the control group. Compared with the normal range, the qigong group showed normalization of norepinephrine. In the qigong group, psychiatric score showed significant lowering in some items. Discussion: Overall, both biological and psychiatric indicators showed some significant changes in both groups. In the qigong group, lowering of cortisol and normalization of norepinephrine was observed. These facts suggest that the stress reduction might be brought by qigong. In the control group, epinephrine was significantly elevated. This fact suggests that in the qigong group, elevation of epinephrine be inhibited by qigong. These facts suggest that qigong training be useful for the chronic schizophrenics to get stress reduction.