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Somatic yoga therapy for functional neurological disorder: feasibility randomised controlled trial.
Emily Kennedy-Barnes1, L S Merritt Millman1, Yasmine Basamh1
1Department of Psychological Medicine, https://ror.org/0220mzb33Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Bjpsych Open
|June 2, 2026
Summary
Somatic yoga is a feasible and acceptable intervention for Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), showing potential benefits for symptom improvement and interoceptive awareness in individuals with FND.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) presents with disabling motor, sensory, or seizure symptoms.
- Altered affective, autonomic, and interoceptive regulation are implicated in FND.
- Accessible, mechanism-informed interventions for FND are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and potential benefits of tailored somatic yoga for individuals with FND.
- To investigate somatic yoga's impact on emotional and bodily regulation in FND.
Main Methods:
- A single-site, two-arm randomized feasibility trial involving adults with FND.
- Intervention: 6 weeks of somatic yoga (remote sessions + home practice) versus a music-based relaxation control.
- Outcomes: Feasibility (recruitment, retention, adherence, acceptability) and secondary outcomes (FND symptoms, psychological distress, functioning, quality of life, interoception, autonomic symptoms).
Main Results:
- High recruitment and retention rates (100% in the yoga arm).
- Somatic yoga demonstrated large effect sizes for self-reported FND symptom improvement and interoceptive awareness.
- Effects were sustained at 3-month follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Individually delivered somatic yoga is feasible, acceptable, and safe for individuals with FND.
- Somatic yoga shows promise for improving FND symptoms and interoceptive awareness.
- Results support a larger, powered trial for somatic yoga in FND.
