Research Projects

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic psychiatric illness characterized by significant impairment in psychophysiological and social well-being, affecting one in one of the global population. It is characterized by recurrent episodes of pathologic mood states, such as manic or depressive symptoms. The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, but factors such as genetic modulations, immuno-inflammatory mechanisms, oxidative stress, neuronal changes, and environmental factors have been identified as key factors in its pathogenesis. Bipolar disorder type I is characterized by at least one episode of mania or mixed episode and at least one depressive episode. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is involved in various somatic and mental diseases, with studies identifying alterations in the functions of the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal HPA axis due to defects in cortico-limbic, amygdala, and hippocampal activity, increased levels of inflammatory cytokines, and decreased sensitivity of the glucocorticoid receptors. Elevated levels of extra-neuronal norepinephrine indicate an increased sympathetic nervous system SNS activity in this disorder. Cognition in bipolar disorder is proportional to the disease severity, duration, and number of manic episodes. Disturbances in mood regulation and degenerative structural changes in the brain lead to cognitive impairment in various domains, negatively impacting the psychosocial outcomes of these patients. Poor quality of sleep is associated with impaired daytime functioning and poor social, occupational, and health consequences in these individuals. Management of bipolar disorder involves pharmacotherapy, psychosocial interventions, and yoga, which can help overcome limitations such as availability of field experts, cost, accessibility, and feasibility. This project aims to demonstrate the effects of a structured Pranayama module on the psychophysiological parameters and quality of life of individuals with bipolar I disorder.