The efficacy of trauma-informed yoga in treating post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in trauma-exposed adults: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION : Research indicates that most individuals will experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Some individuals may develop post-traumatic stress disorder, while others may exhibit subclinical levels of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms alongside comorbid conditions such as depression and anxiety. As a body-based adjunctive intervention, trauma-informed yoga is increasingly used to mitigate post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in individuals who have experienced trauma, including those with or without a formal post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis. However, the efficacy of this approach remains a topic of contention in published studies. METHOD AND ANALYSIS: To identify relevant trials, a literature search will be conducted across seven electronic databases. We will include randomised controlled trials and pre-post studies that assess trauma-informed yoga in trauma-exposed adults. Data obtained from these sources will be synthesised and analysed meta-analytically using RevMan 5.4. The primary outcome measure will be the total score of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, while secondary outcome measures will encompass anxiety and depression scores. The methodological quality and risk of bias of the included trials will be evaluated using the 12-item National Institutes of Health quality assessment tool and the revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (version 2). Furthermore, the overall strength of the evidence will be rated according to the Grading of Recommendations, Appraisals, Developments and Evaluations framework. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: No formal research ethics approval is required. The results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD420251113495.