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Heartfulness meditation as adjunct to methotrexate does not significantly improve PASI 75 response in moderate to severe psoriasis

In a randomized controlled trial of 50 adults with moderate to severe psoriasis, adding heartfulness meditation to methotrexate resulted in PASI 75 achievement in 61.1% of the intervention group versus 52.38% in the control group, but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.548). Trends toward better improvements in BSA, DLQI, PSS, and PSQI were observed in the meditation group, but none reached significance. No adverse events related to meditation were reported.

Last updated: Aug 11, 2026•1 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score48/100
Human RCT★★☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Efficacy of Heartfulness Meditation as Adjunctive Therapy for Moderate to Severe Psoriasis: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

rct

Nagendran P, Subramanian SK, Satyanarayanan, Sripad VD, Rajendran R, Gopinath H, Sravanthi KL, Thiruveedhula H · Indian journal of dermatology (2026)

Participants: 50
Duration: 4 months
Intervention: Heartfulness meditation (daily practice) as adjunct to methotrexate (7.5-25 mg weekly) for 4 months
Outcome: PASI 75 response, body surface area (BSA), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), serum cortisol, IL-6 levels
Effect Size: N/A (no significant difference; absolute difference 8.72% in PASI 75)
Population: Adults aged 18-60 years with moderate to severe psoriasis (PASI ≥10 or BSA ≥10%)

Result: In a randomized controlled trial of 50 adults with moderate to severe psoriasis, adding heartfulness meditation to methotrexate resulted in PASI 75 achievement in 61.1% of the intervention group versus 52.38% in the control group, but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.548). Trends toward better improvements in BSA, DLQI, PSS, and PSQI were observed in the meditation group, but none reached significance. No adverse events related to meditation were reported.

PubMed: 42555361DOI: 10.4103/ijd.ijd_858_24

Mechanism Graph

Heartfulness meditation reduces psychological stress
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Reduced stress may lower cortisol and IL-6 levels
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Lower inflammatory markers may improve psoriasis severity
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Result: Non-significant trend toward better outcomes in meditation group

Limitations

  • ⚠Small sample size (n=44 in final analysis) limits statistical power
  • ⚠Findings were not statistically significant, so benefits are inconclusive
  • ⚠Single-center study in India may limit generalizability
  • ⚠No blinding of participants due to nature of meditation intervention

Frequently Asked Questions

Does heartfulness meditation help treat psoriasis?▼

This RCT found a trend toward better outcomes (e.g., PASI 75 in 61.1% vs 52.38%) but the difference was not statistically significant, so the benefit is not confirmed.

What is PASI 75?▼

PASI 75 is a 75% reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score, a common measure of treatment response in psoriasis trials.

Was heartfulness meditation safe?▼

No adverse events related to heartfulness meditation were reported in the study.

What were the secondary outcomes?▼

Secondary outcomes included changes in body surface area, quality of life (DLQI), perceived stress (PSS), sleep quality (PSQI), and biomarkers (cortisol and IL-6).

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References

  1. 1.Nagendran P, Subramanian SK, Satyanarayanan, Sripad VD, Rajendran R, Gopinath H, Sravanthi KL, Thiruveedhula H. "Efficacy of Heartfulness Meditation as Adjunctive Therapy for Moderate to Severe Psoriasis: A Randomised Controlled Trial.." Indian journal of dermatology, 2026. PMID: 42555361 DOI: 10.4103/ijd.ijd_858_24
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.