YOGA BREATHING PRACTICES AS THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION IN MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS: NEUROBIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE AND INTERDISCIPLINARY COOPERATION PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

Objective: To analyze neurobiological evidence of yoga breathing practices as therapeutic intervention for mental health disorders and propose cooperation strategies between yoga and mental health professionals within the Brazilian psychosocial care context. Method: Narrative literature review on neurobiological mechanisms of yoga breathing techniques in mental disorders, analysis of differentiated therapeutic protocols by diagnosis, and identification of gaps in interdisciplinary cooperation. Results: Yoga breathing practices demonstrate documented therapeutic efficacy through specific neurobiological mechanisms: restoration of heart rate variability (HRV), sustained increase in vagal tone, regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and modulation of brain activity in critical regions for emotional regulation. Different breathing frequencies produce distinct therapeutic effects for each clinical condition, with slow breathing (4.5-6.5 breaths/minute) emerging as most effective for majority of psychiatric disorders. Benefits follow progressive and predictable chronology: immediate (0-5 minutes), short-term (1-4 weeks), medium-term (1-3 months), and long-term (3-6 months), with remission rates between 65-85%. Conclusion: Yoga breathing practices constitute scientifically validated therapeutic intervention for mental disorders, offering singular advantages of universal accessibility, absence of side effects, immediate effects, and potentializing complementarity with conventional treatments. Structured cooperation between yoga and mental health professionals can revolutionize therapeutic outcomes through differentiated protocols, cross-education, and collaborative research integrated into the Unified Health System.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2026.002-013