Our neuropsychiatry department carried out a retrospective study for overseas meditation practitioners who visited the international headquarters of the Brahma Kumaris spiritual institution in 1994-95, to assess the efficacy of Rajayoga meditation to overcome psychoactive substance abuse/dependence.

A group of three hundred and eighty foreigners including two hundred and sixteen Europeans, having a maximum of eight kinds of substance abuse/dependence for a duration ranging from two months to forty years were interviewed. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire.

The majority of the meditation practitioners (93%) abstained completely from all the substances within one month period of practice of Rajyoga Meditation, without taking concurrent psychiatric treatment. This emphasizes the use of Rajyoga Meditation as an effective method to overcome substance abuse/dependence.

Other research studies conducted by the department of neuropsychiatry are Effects of Rajyoga meditation in treating neurotic illnesses and Changes in Physiological Parameters - EEG, muscle tension, etc. - after Rajyoga practice.