Trauma–adapted yoga as complementary care intervention in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

This study examines the benefits of trauma-adapted yoga as an adjunctive treatment for ADHD among adolescents aged 12–18 years receiving care at the Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital (TYKS). The study is part of an international multicenter research project coordinated by University West in Sweden. The university is also conducting broader research on the use of trauma-adapted yoga in various settings: Yoga To Care

Approximately 180 adolescents will be recruited for the study, including more than 40 participants from Finland. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: an immediate-start group or a delayed-start group that begins the intervention after an eight-week waiting period. However, all participants will receive the same eight-week yoga intervention. Participation in the study does not affect any other treatment the adolescent may be receiving; rather, the yoga intervention is provided as an additional element that complements standard care.

The intervention aims to promote balance, calm the body through breathing techniques, and strengthen mental well-being. It seeks to improve self-regulation and enhance the connection between participants’ bodies and minds. The yoga group meets once a week, and the sessions include warm-up exercises, movement, balance training, and relaxation practices. Participation is voluntary, and no prior experience with yoga is required. Participants complete questionnaires on three occasions during the study, and a parent or guardian of each participant also completes a questionnaire as part of the research protocol.

Participant recruitment is about to begin, and the intervention groups will be conducted between 2026 and 2027.

Contact information: Researcher Tiina Alihanka (tiina.alihanka@varha.fi) ja Max Karukivi (max.karukivi@utu.fi)