All Studies · OCD · Bernardi (2023)

Bernardi (2023)

Low · Mechanism/Methods Study · Mechanism (Neuroimaging/Biomarker) · n = 19
Quality Index (Adjusted QI) 0.645
0 Low < 0.56 Moderate 0.56–0.77 High ≥ 0.78 1
Study Details
ConditionObsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Clinical domainOCD
PopulationMedication-free OCD patients and age/sex-matched healthy controls
Sample sizen = 19
Country / SettingUSA - Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
Protocol clusterOCD Protocol (Shannahoff-Khalsa)
Duration1 year
Control typeOther/Mixed
ComparatorHealthy controls (observational); within-subject pre-post comparison
Outcomes & Effect Sizes
Primary outcomeNeurophysiology - MEG resting-state brain activity
Scales usedIrreversibility rate (IR) via ordinal patterns; Permutation entropy (PE); interhemispheric/intrahemispheric asymmetry indices
Key resultOCD alters time scales of brain activity irreversibility: IR concentrated at faster scales (10-20ms) vs controls (30-60ms); more uniform spatial distribution; altered inter/intrahemispheric asymmetry. 1-year KY treatment showed partial normalization.
Effect sizeLMM: group effect p=0.007 (left hemisphere slow IR asymmetry); p=0.008 (global slow IR asymmetry); p=0.038 (global fast IR asymmetry)
Retention70% OCD (7/10 completed follow-up); 100% controls (9/9)
SafetyOnly "temporary muscle soreness" mentioned as possible adverse effect
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Methodological Summary

Dual 37-channel MEG (SQUID); 1800s recordings at 231.5Hz; ordinal pattern analysis (d=3,4); time-reversal symmetry quantification; Linear Mixed Models

KY Protocol Components

OCD-Specific Kundalini Yoga Protocol (Shannahoff-Khalsa): • 1-year daily breathing and meditation therapy • 8 PRIMARY techniques (daily use): - Left-nostril breathing meditation (unilateral forced nostril breathing - UFNB) - specific for OCD - Techniques for managing fear, tranquilizing angry mind, meeting mental challenges - Turning negative thoughts into positive thoughts - Addressing anxiety, low energy, depression, nervous disorders • 3 ADDITIONAL techniques (at personal discretion/as needed) PROTOCOL PUBLICATIONS (comprehensive protocol details in): • Shannahoff-Khalsa & Beckett (1996) "Clinical case report: Efficacy of yogic techniques in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorders" Int J Neurosci 85:1-17 • Shannahoff-Khalsa (1997) 47-page chapter in "Obsessive Compulsive Disorders: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment" (pp. 283-329) • Shannahoff-Khalsa et al (1999) "Randomized controlled trial of yogic meditation techniques for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder" CNS Spectrums 4(12):34-47 • Shannahoff-Khalsa (2003) "Kundalini Yoga Meditation Techniques for the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive and OC Spectrum Disorders" Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention 3:369-382 • Shannahoff-Khalsa (2004) "An introduction to Kundalini yoga meditation techniques that are specific for the treatment of psychiatric disorders" J Altern Complement Med 10(1):91-101 • Shannahoff-Khalsa (2012) "Kundalini Yoga Meditation: Techniques Specific for Psychiatric Disorders, Couples Therapy, and Personal Growth" W.W. Norton & Co. (64 total techniques across all disorders) • Shannahoff-Khalsa et al (2019) "Kundalini yoga meditation versus the relaxation response meditation for treating adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized clinical trial" Front Psychiatry 10:793 OUTCOMES: 70.1% mean improvement on Y-BOCS at 15 months; 38.4% improvement within 3 months

Quality Item Scores — 1 fail · 2 partial · 3 pass · ★ critical
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B9
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JP1
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Critical fails2
Raw QI0.697
SAF0.925
Adjusted QI0.645
Final ratingLow