Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition involving areas such as psychopathology, cognitive deficits, insight, and stigma. Research on it may assess changes across these areas, including negative symptoms and cognition.
A concise starting point for understanding schizophrenia in the context of mental health.
This list shows research findings, not treatments. Nothing here replaces medical care. If you have this condition, talk to a doctor.
What may help
What studies found for each option, best evidence first.
15 options:1 good evidence4 some evidence7 not enough evidence3 no benefit found
QigongpracticeGood evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Good human studies found a benefit, and they mostly agree. This is about what studies measured, not a cure.
All 3 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
A subgroup pooled analysis found improvement in psychiatric symptoms, but not a significant effect on physical function. A 2024 randomized trial in 40 stable patients with Schizophrenia reported improved cognitive function.
Open the Qigong pageGardening TherapypracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 3 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
A 2024 meta-analysis pooling 35 randomized trials found improvements in total, positive and negative symptoms, depression, and anxiety among people with schizophrenia. A 2021 meta-analysis of randomized and non-randomized human studies also reported improvements in symptoms, rehabilitation outcomes, quality of life, and social functioning.
Open the Gardening Therapy pagePsychotherapypracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 2 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
A trial in 130 outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder found better psychosocial functioning with MPP-S plus usual care than with usual care alone. A separate pooled analysis reported reductions in schizophrenia symptoms and improved psychosocial functioning.
Open the Psychotherapy pageTai ChipracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 2 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
A pooled analysis of randomized trials found reductions in SANS, SAPS and IPROS scores compared with conventional treatment, but no significant effect on PANSS total score, the primary endpoint. A review of 6 trials described tentative small-to-moderate improvements in negative symptoms and cognitive deficits.
Open the Tai Chi pageDancepracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 4 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
Reviews of Dance/Movement Therapy added to usual care report improvements in negative symptoms, social engagement, bodily awareness and physical functioning, with variable evidence. In a 12-week trial involving 58 long-term hospitalized male veterans with schizophrenia, weight and BMI decreased versus usual care, but the small effect was not robust to Bonferroni correction and metabolic biomarkers did not change.
Open the Dance pageAcupuncturepracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
The one study found a benefit.
A meta-analysis found symptom improvement when acupuncture was added to antipsychotics compared with antipsychotics alone, but no significant difference compared with sham treatment.
Open the Acupuncture pageAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)practiceNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
4 of 6 studies found a benefit; 2 found none.
In a 2025 pilot RCT, physical activity and autonomous motivation improved after 12 weeks in people with early psychosis compared with usual care. These changes do not establish symptom improvement: a 2025 pooled analysis whose designs were not recorded found no significant effect on positive or negative schizophrenia symptoms, and an ACT-DL analysis reported engagement and acceptability but did not compare efficacy outcomes.
Open the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) pageBrisk WalkingpracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
The one study found a benefit.
A 2025 randomized controlled trial in 60 people with Schizophrenia found improvements in cognitive and physical functions compared with health education.
Open the Brisk Walking page
May not suit people with this condition
Supplements and practices linked to problems for people with this condition.
FastingpracticePossible
A systematic review reported rare but severe psychotic decompensations during fasting.
Open the Fasting pageTranscendental MeditationpracticeUnclear
For people with active psychosis or a history of severe dissociative states, the deep relaxation and altered awareness of Transcendental Meditation may trigger or worsen psychotic symptoms; meditation should be undertaken only with clinical supervision.
Open the Transcendental Meditation page
The expert view shows every study, dose protocol and source.
What may help
Interventions recorded as helping with this condition15 listedHighest probability, strongest evidence
- →PracticesQigongCertaintyHighSourceRCT
A subgroup pooled analysis found improvement in psychiatric symptoms, but not a significant effect on physical function. A 2024 randomized trial in 40 stable patients with Schizophrenia reported improved cognitive function.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
Open QigongStudy result
Subgroup meta-analysis: significant improvement in psychiatric symptoms; non-significant physical function effect
Medium probability(4)
- →PracticesGardening TherapyCertaintyMediumSourceRCT
A 2024 meta-analysis pooling 35 randomized trials found improvements in total, positive and negative symptoms, depression, and anxiety among people with schizophrenia. A 2021 meta-analysis of randomized and non-randomized human studies also reported improvements in symptoms, rehabilitation outcomes, quality of life, and social functioning.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Schizophrenia
Open Gardening TherapyStudy result
Meta-analysis of 35 RCTs showing significant improvements in total, positive, negative symptoms, depression, and anxiety.
- →PracticesPsychotherapyCertaintyMediumSourceRCT
A trial in 130 outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder found better psychosocial functioning with MPP-S plus usual care than with usual care alone. A separate pooled analysis reported reductions in schizophrenia symptoms and improved psychosocial functioning.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Schizophrenia
Open PsychotherapyStudy result
Large effect sizes for PANSS reduction and PSP improvement in two schizophrenia trials
- →PracticesTai ChiCertaintyMediumSourceRCT
A pooled analysis of randomized trials found reductions in SANS, SAPS and IPROS scores compared with conventional treatment, but no significant effect on PANSS total score, the primary endpoint. A review of 6 trials described tentative small-to-moderate improvements in negative symptoms and cognitive deficits.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Schizophrenia
Open Tai ChiStudy result
Tai chi significantly reduced SANS, SAPS and IPROS scores versus conventional treatment in patients with schizophrenia. PANSS total score, the primary endpoint, showed no significant tai chi effect, so the benefit rests on secondary subscales.
- →PracticesDanceCertaintyMediumSourceClinical
Reviews of Dance/Movement Therapy added to usual care report improvements in negative symptoms, social engagement, bodily awareness and physical functioning, with variable evidence. In a 12-week trial involving 58 long-term hospitalized male veterans with schizophrenia, weight and BMI decreased versus usual care, but the small effect was not robust to Bonferroni correction and metabolic biomarkers did not change.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Schizophrenia
Open DanceStudy result
DMT-specific studies reported improvements in negative symptoms, social engagement, bodily awareness, and physical functioning when added to TAU; evidence variable.
Low probability(7)
- →PracticesAcupunctureCertaintyLowSourceRCT
A meta-analysis found symptom improvement when acupuncture was added to antipsychotics compared with antipsychotics alone, but no significant difference compared with sham treatment.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Schizophrenia
Open AcupunctureStudy result
Meta-analysis of RCTs of acupuncture added to antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders; symptom improvement vs antipsychotics alone, with no significant difference vs sham.
- →PracticesAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)CertaintyLowSourceClinical
In a 2025 pilot RCT, physical activity and autonomous motivation improved after 12 weeks in people with early psychosis compared with usual care. These changes do not establish symptom improvement: a 2025 pooled analysis whose designs were not recorded found no significant effect on positive or negative schizophrenia symptoms, and an ACT-DL analysis reported engagement and acceptability but did not compare efficacy outcomes.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Schizophrenia
Open Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Study result
Physical activity and autonomous motivation improved at 12 weeks in early psychosis patients compared with usual care in a pilot RCT (n=72).
- →PracticesBrisk WalkingCertaintyLowSourceClinical
A 2025 randomized controlled trial in 60 people with Schizophrenia found improvements in cognitive and physical functions compared with health education.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Schizophrenia
Open Brisk WalkingStudy result
RCT showing significant improvements in cognitive and physical functions compared to health education.
- →PracticesFinnish SaunaCertaintyLowSourceClinical
An observational cohort of 2,221 people associated frequent sauna bathing with lower incidence of psychotic disorder, but a causal role was not established.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
Open Finnish SaunaStudy result
Observational cohort association between frequent sauna bathing and lower incident psychotic disorder; causal role not established.
- →PracticesMindfulness MeditationCertaintyLowSourceClinical
A small fMRI pilot involving 11 people found that auditory hallucinations decreased at 1 week, but the improvement was not sustained at 12 weeks; the work was considered a feasibility pilot.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
Open Mindfulness MeditationStudy result
One small fMRI pilot (n=11) found decreased auditory hallucinations at 1 week, not sustained at 12 weeks; considered feasibility pilot only.
- →PracticesYogaCertaintyLowSourceClinical
A trial in 74 people with schizophrenia reported benefits for aggression and well-being from a Yoga-based mind-body intervention. A review also described Yoga therapy as an adjunct treatment.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Schizophrenia
Open YogaStudy result
Yoga-based mind-body intervention was tested in 74 patients with schizophrenia and reported benefits for aggression and well-being.
- →PracticesCardioCertaintyLowSourceReview
A review described benefits in cognition, psychiatric symptoms, daily functioning, and quality of life in people with schizophrenia. However, a pooled analysis whose designs were not recorded found no significant effect on total hippocampal formation volume (g=0.33, 95% CI -0.12 to 0.77, p=0.15); preliminary RCT data suggested changes in specific subfields, without a stable clinical finding.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Schizophrenia
Open CardioStudy result
Multiple meta-analyses and reviews consistently show AE benefits for cognition, psychiatric symptoms, daily functioning, and quality of life in both MEP and FEP; AE is endorsed worldwide by the WHO, European Psychiatric Association, and the Lancet Psychiatry Physical Health Commission
Very low probability(3)
- →PracticesBrain Games / PuzzlesCertaintyVery lowSourceClinical
This practice has been studied in people with schizophrenia.
Open Brain Games / PuzzlesWho was studied
- People with a condition
- Schizophrenia
- →PracticesHatha YogaCertaintyVery lowSourceClinical
A 2014 trial in 50 outpatients with schizophrenia or related psychotic disorders found no significant changes in resilience, psychotic symptoms, BDNF, or SAA when yoga was added to regular treatment.
Open Hatha YogaWho was studied
- People with a condition
- Schizophrenia
- →PracticesRed Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)CertaintyVery lowSourceClinical
A randomized trial of 32 people found no significant difference in MMSE or total PANSS scores; only the depression/anxiety item improved. The studies did not support an overall benefit for schizophrenia.
Open Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Alzheimers Disease
- Anxiety Disorder
- Depression
- Low Libido
- Parkinsons Disease
- Schizophrenia
- +1 more
What to avoid
Interventions recorded as making it worse2 listedHighest probability
- →PracticesFastingCertaintyMediumSourceClinical
A systematic review reported rare but severe psychotic decompensations during fasting.
Study result
Rare but severe psychotic decompensations reported
Open FastingRationale
Rare but severe psychotic decompensations reported
Low probability(1)
- →PracticesTranscendental MeditationCertaintyLowSourceReference knowledge
For people with active psychosis or a history of severe dissociative states, the deep relaxation and altered awareness of Transcendental Meditation may trigger or worsen psychotic symptoms; meditation should be undertaken only with clinical supervision.
Open Transcendental MeditationRationale
In individuals with active psychosis or a history of severe dissociative states, the deep relaxation and altered awareness of TM may trigger or exacerbate psychotic symptoms. Caution is advised; meditation should only be undertaken with clinical supervision.
How to read the evidence
Evidence tier — overall strength of the evidence for the whole compound
- StrongWell established — backed by strong, consistent human research.
- ModerateSome genuine support, but mostly from small or lower-quality studies. Promising, not proven.
- PreliminaryEarly-stage evidence — a promising hypothesis, not an established effect yet.
- LimitedVery limited evidence — treat this as a hypothesis, not proof.
- InsufficientNot enough good evidence to draw conclusions yet.
Certainty — how sure we can be that the effect is real
- Very highVery sure — strong, consistent evidence
- HighFairly sure — consistent evidence from good studies
- MediumModerately sure — new studies could change this
- LowNot sure — little or mixed evidence
- Very lowVery unsure — almost no usable evidence
Source — where the data comes from
- Meta-analysisPooled analysis of many trials — the strongest evidence
- RCTRandomized controlled trial — a strong human study design
- ClinicalA human clinical study
- Reference knowledgeFrom general health-science or pharmacology references, not a study of this exact claim
- Animal researchStudied in animals, not humans
- Community reportsAggregated user reports — anecdotal signal, not evidence
- TheoreticalMechanism-based reasoning, not yet tested
Study grade — quality of each underlying study (A best, D weakest)
- AHigh-quality — strong, consistent human trials
- BGood — solid evidence with some limitations
- CModerate — limited, small, or mixed-quality studies
- DWeak — preliminary, indirect, or animal-only
Confidence — how strongly the sources back a finding
A 0–100 score from study quality and agreement
Most supplement evidence is graded C–D. Read it as preliminary signal, not proof.
Full write-up
What is it
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition involving areas such as psychopathology, cognitive deficits, insight, and stigma. Research on it may assess changes across these areas, including negative symptoms and cognition. Because the condition can involve several distinct outcomes, findings about one area should not automatically be taken to describe every aspect of schizophrenia. Information about approaches such as Meditation, Tai Chi, or Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) is best understood in relation to the specific outcome studied.
Evidence-backed options
The options associated with schizophrenia span behavioral approaches, supplements, and add-on strategies, but the evidence does not support treating them as equivalent. Tai Chi and Meditation have the comparatively more supportive findings in this group, with research focused on symptoms, cognition, insight, and stigma. Other options have more limited clinical or review-level support, and some findings concern a specific outcome rather than schizophrenia overall.
The details of what was studied also vary substantially. In animal research, oral Glycine was given at 0.2 – 0.8 g/kg body weight daily over 6 – 12 weeks, so those findings do not directly establish effects in people. A 2 mg PR melatonin formulation was studied for sleep symptoms, while CBD was examined with both chronic and acute administration. Resveratrol was evaluated as an addition to risperidone rather than as a standalone option. For Saffron Extract, the available study addressed short-term safety and tolerability, which is different from demonstrating symptom improvement.
Timing is therefore difficult to compare across options. Some research involved daily use over several weeks, some examined acute administration, and some did not provide a clear treatment duration or onset of benefit. Omega-3 is specifically not recommended as a treatment for acute exacerbation of chronic schizophrenia or for prevention of relapse in the cited finding. Overall, several options remain supported by limited evidence, and applicability may differ according to the outcome studied and whether the research involved people with schizophrenia or animals. Consultation with a clinician is important for any medical condition.
What to avoid
St. John’s Wort is flagged because its serotonergic and dopaminergic activity may exacerbate psychotic symptoms in people with schizophrenia. Tyrosine is also flagged because it may increase dopamine synthesis, which could potentially worsen psychotic symptoms.
These concerns share a dopaminergic pathway: substances that increase dopamine activity or production may be unsuitable when psychotic symptoms are a concern. St. John’s Wort additionally has serotonergic activity, so its rationale involves more than dopamine alone. Anyone with schizophrenia should discuss these supplements with a clinician before using them, particularly when symptoms or treatment plans may be affected.