Integrated comprehensive care in short-stay psychiatric units: a yoga-based adjunctive intervention and its association with wellbeing and patient satisfaction

Introduction The treatment of patients in Short-Stay Psychiatric Units (SSPUs) requires a holistic approach that promotes overall health, enhances patients’ personal resources, and supports adaptation to daily life, thereby contributing to a more humane inpatient experience. The role of mental health professionals must extend beyond a traditional symptom-focused approach, with the therapeutic relationship grounded in empathy to provide a safe and trusting environment that enables patients to enhance self-confidence and actively engage in recovery. Preliminary evidence suggests yoga may improve functional outcomes and hospitalization experience. Methods This study examined the differential effect of a yoga intervention implemented as an adjunct to comprehensive patient care in the SSPU of the Insular Maternal and Child University Hospital Complex of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. The sample comprised 100 patients (52 in the experimental group and 48 in the control group) who completed the Distress Thermometer, the EuroQoL EQ-5D-5L Health Questionnaire, the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8), and an open-ended questionnaire assessing treatment satisfaction. Results Statistically significant improvements were observed following the comprehensive intervention, including reductions in perceived stress and health and functional problems, as well as improvements in self-rated overall health. At the between-group level, the experimental group showed significantly greater improvement in the self-care dimension of the EuroQoL EQ-5D-5L and higher overall treatment satisfaction on the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire. Patients’ qualitative descriptions characterized yoga as a beneficial component of care, contributing to relaxation, emotional regulation, feelings of peace and safety, and improved communication and empathy. Co-occurrence analysis suggests that these experiences, together with body awareness, are closely interrelated, reflecting experiential patterns rather than distinct therapeutic mechanisms. Discussion This study shows that integrating a yoga-based intervention into comprehensive inpatient care is feasible, well-received, and valued by patients, supporting its potential as a complementary therapeutic activity.