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Yoga Dissertations by MSc Students

Part I: Comparison between the Symptoms of Schizophrenia and Experiences of Spiritual Growth
Part II: Tridosas in Psychotic Disorders

By

Suchitra S Patil

ABSTRACT

Part I: Comparison between the Symptoms of Schizophrenia and Experiences of Spiritual Growth

Main objective of the study was to compare the symptoms of Schizophrenia and symptoms of Spiritual growth. Study was done by compiling symptoms of Schizophrenia and experiences of Spiritual growth from textbooks of Psychiatry and the classical texts of Āyurveda, Bhagavad-Gītā, Patañjali’s yoga- sūtras and Yoga Vāsis,t,ha .And study was done to see the difference between the symptoms of Schizophrenia and the experiences of spiritual growth as described in scriptures. Study found that there are similarities in positive symptoms (like delusions of some kinds, hallucinations) and some experiences of Spiritual growth. In schizophrenia person will not have the freedom to come out of it. However, in Spiritual growth person will have the freedom to come out of it. In schizophrenia person enters active phase without his awareness, in spiritual growth person enters symptom phase with his awareness. In schizophrenia negative symptoms are predominantly present. But in spiritual growth negative symptoms are not present predominantly. In spiritual growth tranquility of the mind is the criterion. But in Schizophrenia there will not be tranquility of the mind.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Comparison between the symptoms of Schizophrenia and experiences of Spiritual growth is an important issue in the field of psychology and psychiatry. Psychologists and psychiatrists are looking at similarities and differences between experiences, hoping to shed light on nature process and treatment of psychosis. Main objective of the study was to compare the symptoms of Schizophrenia and the experiences of Spiritual growth. Study was done by compiling the experiences described in the texts like Bhagavad-Gītā, Patañjali’s Yoga sūtras, Yoga –Vāsis,t,ha, etc. Study found that there are similarities in positive symptoms (like delusions and some kinds of hallucinations) of Schizophrenia and some of the experiences of Spiritual growth. But it was noticed that in Schizophrenia symptoms are seen without the awareness of a person.  In spiritual growth, experiences are seen with the awareness, insight of a person. In Schizophrenia there is distortion of reality and in Spiritual growth there is vision of actual reality, truth. In Schizophrenia negative symptoms are prominently present. But in Spiritual growth it is not present.  In schizophrenia lack of insight and judgement are the main features. Spiritual growth begins with insight and reaches its climax. Judgement flowers in to compassion and true love. In spiritual growth, person will have freedom to come out of his state. In schizophrenia person will not have the freedom to come out of his diseased state of mind. Definition of delusion changes to psychiatry and spirituality. In, psychiatry delusion means erroneous belief. In spirituality the concept is whole world what we are seeing is a delusion.

Part II: Tridosas in Psychotic Disorders

Background
To develop a reliable and valid instrument to measure tridos,a (specific) symptoms of unmāda in patients with psychotic disorder is an important task, as treatment differs for different dos,as. 
Objective
This is a report on the development and initial standardization of unmāda specific symptom scale (USS), to measure tridos,a symptoms of unmāda in patients with psychotic disorders.
Method
USS was developed based on the translation of Saàskr,ta çlokas describing vātaja, pittaja and kaphaja unmādas and opinions of experts (fifteen āyurvedic experts, five psychiatrists, five psychologists). An Unmāda specific symptom scale, consisting of 72 items was conceived as an operationalized instrument which provides balanced representation of vātaja, pittaja.kaphaja unmādas. It thus, constitutes three subscales measuring vātaja, pittaja and kaphaja unmādas. USS was administered to 30 psychotic disorder patients as a part of assessment process.
 Results
An Unmāda specific symptom scale was associated with excellent internal consistency Cronbach’s µ for v, p and k scale was .982, .982 and 0.988 respectively. The Split-half Reliability for v, p and k scale was 0.981, 0.976 and 0.989 respectively.
Scores for vātaja, pittaja and kaphaja scale were inversely correlated, suggesting that they represent mutually exclusive dimensions. The three subgroups of psychosis; paranoid schizophrenia, schizophrenia NOS and psychosis NOS, had significantly differential loadings on the three scores; having high scores on vātaja, pittaja and kaphaja respectively. Difference in the mean scores of different diagnostic groups was significant, as showed by Kruskal-wallis test (p< 0.001).

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

  An Unmāda specific symptom scale is a simple efficient way for clinicians to measure tridos,as in patients with, psychotic disorders. Classification of psychosis is possible according to Āyurveda. This helps in planning treatment for different dos,as.  

Keywords:Schizophrenia,Tridosas, Psychotic Disorders.