Conhecimentos e representações de pacientes e psicólogos clínicos acerca do protocolo de kundalini yoga para tratamento complementar da perturbação obsessivo–compulsiva

Abstract

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a pathology that impairs patients in multiple ways, namely by affecting their quality of life. Some of the patients, even those undergoing standard treatment, still exhibit residual symptoms. Moreover, there has been a growing interest in alternate and complementary techniques applied to mental health treatment, including body-mind techniques (yoga and meditation). Frustration with a conventional treatment, fewer side-effects and less stigma are some of the reasons in literature for an increasing interest in such approaches to mental health. This study has sought to measure the level of openness and acceptance of such alternate and complementary techniques among psychologists and patients, and specifically to determine if they were familiar with a Kundalini Yoga (KY) protocol for OCD treatment, in addition to establishing their respective opinions on this matter. It also sought to compare groups according to their acquaintance with yoga and meditation for mental health, specific level of knowledge of the KY protocol for OCD, and openness to meditation techniques. It is a qualitative and quantitative, cross-sectional and nonexperimental study. Its first phase included 34 participants (psychotherapists and patients), while its second phase included five psychologists. The study indicated openness to alternate and complementary techniques in both groups, with a significantly larger acceptance of a complementary OCD treatment among psychologists, who also displayed a better overall knowledge of yoga and meditation. No significant differences were found under the same variables when groups were compared by gender. Knowledge among patients of the KY protocol was nil, while psychologists showed a very limited knowledge. This study can contribute to promote the KY protocol as a complementary OCD treatment among therapists and patients, given the scarce literature and the potential relevance of this protocol in mental health treatment.

Date of Award	27 Nov 2024
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Susana Costa Ramalho (Supervisor)