Kundalini Yoga Research

Systematic review of clinical research — evidence-based resources for yoga therapy students and practitioners.

88
Studies
4,469
Participants
11
High Quality
50
Moderate
27
Low Quality
Showing 88 studies
Kanchan
2026
Narrative Review
Neuroimaging of KY/Kirtan Kriya — brain structure, function, and mechanisms
Low QI 0.542 Predatory concerns
Liu
2026
Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis
Meta-analysis: MCI, AD, PD, SCD (cognitive function)
Moderate QI 0.723
Amitai
2025
Single-Arm Trial · n = 14
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) - hematological malignancy
Low QI 0.702
Diamond
2025
RCT Secondary Analysis · n = 226
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Moderate QI 0.736
Feldman
2025
RCT Secondary Analysis · n = 147
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) — therapeutic relationship
Moderate QI 0.762
Grzenda
2025
RCT · n = 79
Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) with cardiovascular risk factors in women at risk for AD
High QI 0.911
Keltz
2025
RCT Secondary Analysis · n = 190
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) — homework engagement
High QI 0.815
Oughli
2025
RCT Secondary Analysis · n = 56
Subjective cognitive decline + AD peripheral biomarkers
Moderate QI 0.762
Roy
2025
Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis
Systematic review (all conditions)
Moderate QI 0.663
Brandao
2024
RCT · n = 106
Anxiety + stress (students, COVID)
High QI 0.911
Giridharan
2024
Narrative Review
Mental health systematic review
Moderate QI 0.572 Predatory concerns
Giridharan (b)
2024
Narrative Review · n = 215
Systematic review: KY for cognitive function and memory in MCI/SCD
Low QI 0.542
Jacoby
2024
RCT Secondary Analysis · n = 226
Sleep disturbance (mixed)
High QI 0.788
Staples
2024
Non-Randomized Trial (Pilot) · n = 26
PTSD (combined KY+CBT)
Low QI 0.767
Bernardi
2023
Mechanism/Methods Study · n = 19
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Low QI 0.645
Hoge
2023
RCT Secondary Analysis · n = 226
GAD (preference matching)
Moderate QI 0.762
Khalsa
2023
Pilot RCT · n = 53
Anxiety (older adults)
Moderate QI 0.756
Khusmitha
2023
Pre-Post/Single-Arm Trial · n = 30
Emesis gravidarum (nausea/vomiting) in first trimester pregnancy
Low QI 0.678
Kilpatrick
2023
RCT · n = 22
Subjective cognitive decline + AD risk
High QI 0.889
Nasrolahzadeh
2023
Mechanism/Methods Study
HRV analysis during Chi meditation and KY using visibility graph method
Low QI 0.588
Ibrahim
2022
Pilot RCT · n = 14
Healthy older adults (aging focus, neuroprotection)
Moderate QI 0.689
Krause-Sorio
2022
RCT · n = 22
Subjective cognitive decline + AD risk
Moderate QI 0.733
Morrison
2022
Qualitative
Posttraumatic growth in South African youth
Low QI 0.554
Murray
2022
Pilot RCT · n = 29
Post-Lyme disease
Low QI 0.689
Szuhany
2022
RCT Secondary Analysis · n = 165
GAD (preference impact)
Moderate QI 0.762
Fernandez
2021
Single-Arm Trial · n = 9
Mental health symptoms (stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia) in educational setting
Low QI 0.608 Limited indexing
Khalsa
2021
RCT · n = 44
Chronic insomnia + anxiety
Moderate QI 0.778
Martinez
2021
RCT · n = 72
Healthy adults / Positive psychology outcomes (non-clinical population)
Moderate QI 0.778 Limited indexing
McMahon
2021
Non-Randomized Trial · n = 119
Emotion dysregulation, psychological functioning
Moderate QI 0.767
Simon
2021
RCT · n = 226
Generalized anxiety disorder
High QI 1.000
La Torre
2020
Single-Arm Trial · n = 83
Healthcare worker burnout
Low QI 0.656
Trichal
2020
Non-Randomized Trial · n = 50
Borderline personality disorder
Low QI 0.644 Limited indexing
Shannahoff-Khalsa
2019
RCT · n = 52
OCD (treatment-resistant)
High QI 0.889
Gabriel
2018
Non-Randomized Trial · n = 49
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adult women
Low QI 0.593
Innes
2018
RCT Secondary Analysis · n = 22
Subjective cognitive decline
Moderate QI 0.736
Innes
2018
Pilot RCT · n = 22
Knee osteoarthritis (chronic pain)
Moderate QI 0.689
Kaselionyte
2018
Qualitative · n = 15
Community practice/Lifestyle
Moderate QI 0.652
Sarkissian
2018
Non-Randomized Trial · n = 30
Stress, affect, and resilience in urban school students
Low QI 0.693
Wahlstrom
2018
Qualitative · n = 12
Atrial fibrillation (experiences)
Moderate QI 0.652
Axen
2017
Pre-Post/Single-Arm Trial · n = 32
Chronic stress
Moderate QI 0.702
Bramberg
2017
RCT · n = 159
Non-specific low back and neck pain (90% chronic)
Moderate QI 0.711
Eyre
2017
RCT · n = 81
Mild cognitive impairment
High QI 0.933
Garcia-Sesnich
2017
Non-Randomized Trial · n = 26
Stress (salivary biomarkers + perceived stress in healthy university students)
Low QI 0.742
Griera
2017
Qualitative
Yoga in prisons/penitentiary settings
Moderate QI 0.620
Innes
2017
RCT Secondary Analysis · n = 60
Cognitive decline (community)
Moderate QI 0.710
Mirauda
2017
Qualitative · n = 9
Eating disorders
Moderate QI 0.587 Limited indexing
Simon
2017
Mechanism/Methods Study · n = 24
DMN suppression during mantra meditation; Secular novice participants
Moderate QI 0.672
Subramaniam
2017
Observational · n = 20
Healthy adults / Cognitive-motor interference during dual-tasking / Balance control
Low QI 0.585
Wolff
2017
Qualitative
Hypertension (experiences)
Moderate QI 0.652
Eyre
2016
RCT · n = 25
Mild cognitive impairment
Moderate QI 0.733
Innes
2016
Pilot RCT · n = 60
Subjective cognitive decline
Moderate QI 0.756
Innes
2016
RCT Secondary Analysis · n = 60
Subjective cognitive decline
Moderate QI 0.736
Perez Vallejos
2016
Pilot RCT · n = 8
Trauma (residential care)
Low QI 0.622
Wahlstrom
2016
RCT · n = 88
Atrial fibrillation
High QI 0.911
Wolff
2016
RCT · n = 191
Hypertension (primary care)
High QI 0.933
Yang
2016
RCT Secondary Analysis · n = 20
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
Moderate QI 0.657
Aboagye
2015
Pilot RCT · n = 159
Cost-effectiveness for non-specific low back pain
Low QI 0.711
Jindani
2015
RCT · n = 80
PTSD
Moderate QI 0.756
Jindani
2015
Qualitative
PTSD + posttraumatic growth
Moderate QI 0.685
Jindani
2015
Qualitative · n = 9
PTSD + spirituality
Moderate QI 0.620
Khalsa
2015
Pilot RCT · n = 32
Treatment-resistant GAD
Moderate QI 0.756
Wolff
2015
RCT · n = 83
Hypertension + metabolic risk
Moderate QI 0.711
Ahmed
2014
Other · n = 34
Acute pain during anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody therapy for neuroblastoma
Low QI 0.620
Anderzen-Carlsson
2014
Qualitative
Stress (primary care)
Moderate QI 0.620
Black
2013
RCT · n = 45
Caregiver stress / gene expression (NF-kB/IRF transcriptome dynamics)
Moderate QI 0.756
Kohn
2013
RCT · n = 37
Burnout/stress-related symptoms
Moderate QI 0.733
Lavretsky
2013
RCT · n = 39
Depression in dementia caregivers
High QI 0.889
Wolff
2013
RCT · n = 83
Hypertension
Moderate QI 0.733
Moss
2012
Pre-Post/Single-Arm Trial · n = 15
Memory loss + anxiety
Low QI 0.702
Newberg
2012
Mechanism/Methods Study
Cognitive decline (neuroimaging review)
Moderate QI 0.645
Pomykala
2012
Mechanism/Methods Study · n = 14
Stress in caregivers
Moderate QI 0.672
Wang
2011
Mechanism/Methods Study
Meditation/brain perfusion
Moderate QI 0.701
Engstrom
2010
Mechanism/Methods Study · n = 11
Attention/default mode (normal)
Moderate QI 0.757
Newberg
2010
Mechanism/Methods Study · n = 15
Memory loss
Moderate QI 0.729
Newberg
2010
Mechanism/Methods Study · n = 8
Memory loss (neuroimaging)
Moderate QI 0.701
Khalsa
2009
Mechanism/Methods Study · n = 22
Neuroimaging (cerebral blood flow)
Moderate QI 0.701
Khalsa
2008
Mechanism/Methods Study · n = 20
Interoception/meditation
Low QI 0.672
Khalsa
2008
Non-Randomized Trial · n = 86
Substance use disorder
Low QI 0.593
Lynton
2007
Single-Arm Trial · n = 8
Post-stroke recovery
Low QI 0.632
Vazquez-Vandyck
2007
Pre-Post/Single-Arm Trial · n = 21
Hepatitis C + metabolic
Low QI 0.678
Granath
2006
RCT · n = 40
Stress + burnout
Moderate QI 0.756
Khalsa
2004
Pre-Post/Single-Arm Trial · n = 20
Chronic insomnia
Low QI 0.678
Peng
2004
Mechanism/Methods Study · n = 10
HRV/autonomic function
Moderate QI 0.701
Shannahoff-Khalsa
2004
Mechanism/Methods Study · n = 10
OCD protocol (physiological)
Low QI 0.672
Lazar
2000
Mechanism/Methods Study · n = 5
Functional MRI meditation
Moderate QI 0.729
Peng
1999
Mechanism/Methods Study · n = 10
HRV/breathing dynamics
Moderate QI 0.701
Shannahoff-Khalsa
1999
RCT · n = 12
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Moderate QI 0.756
Shannahoff-Khalsa
1996
Pre-Post/Single-Arm Trial · n = 8
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (treatment-resistant)
Low QI 0.515