Using Nurse Led Yoga Meditation to Quiet the Mind: An Integrative Therapy to Reduce Hospital Readmission Rates in Patients with a Diagnosis of Schizophrenia

Presenter Information

Sara Pepel, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Fawn VanEps, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Laurel Chapman, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Casey Windsperger, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Karissa Scharmer, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Location

CSU Ballroom

Start Date

9-4-2012 1:00 PM

End Date

9-4-2012 2:30 PM

Student's Major

School of Nursing

Student's College

Allied Health and Nursing

Mentor's Name

Hans Peter De Ruiter

Mentor's Department

School of Nursing

Mentor's College

Allied Health and Nursing

Description

Purpose

Approximately 2.2 million people in the US have schizophrenia. It is considered one of the most disabling psychiatric disorders; its treatment utilizes an unbalanced share of mental health services. This study examines a non-pharmacological approach to helping patients with this condition.

Significance

Traumatic and stressful events commonly trigger the onset or worsening of psychotic symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia; interventions that improve an individual’s ability to cope and decrease anxiety have been useful in managing these symptoms The practice of yoga works in three ways to influence perception: it heightens perceptual sensitivity, it works to selectively exclude undesirable stimuli, and it changes distorted ideas or understanding, which often occurs in schizophrenia. Demonstrating the effectiveness of an additional intervention of nurse led yoga-meditation to traditional group-home therapy for individuals with a diagnosis of Schizophrenia.

Study Question

Can the addition of an alternative therapy to conventional treatment reduce readmission rates for individuals with a diagnosis of Schizophrenia?

Design

This study will be a quasi-experimental quantitative study that will have 300 randomized participants who currently live in group homes and have a diagnosis of Schizophrenia. All of the participants will currently be participating in conventional therapy, including skill building and medication management. 150 participants will be assigned to the experimental group and will participate in yoga- meditation in addition to their conventional therapy. At monthly intervals, the group home staff will be sent a survey, through Survey Monkey, focusing on psychosis-related hospital readmissions of the participant(s) in their residence.