Integrative Psychiatry: Reflections on the NIMHANS Model

Integrative psychiatry combines conventional psychiatric treatments with evidence-informed complementary approaches to address the biological, psychological, social, and existential dimensions of mental illness. Growing patient use of complementary therapies and limitations of conventional models have increased interest in such approaches; however, structured exposure within psychiatric training remains limited. This Viewpoint describes the integrative psychiatry model at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), India, and examines its clinical, educational, and research components. The model ischaracterized by multidisciplinary collaboration across psychiatry, yoga, Ayurveda, and naturopathy, with joint clinical assessment and integrated treatment planning. Clinical services incorporate pharmacotherapyalongside lifestyle modification, yoga-based interventions, and traditional therapeutic practices. Training programs include interdisciplinary teaching, supervised clinical exposure, and research engagement.Observations from clinical training suggest enhanced patient engagement and cultural acceptability of integrative approaches. Selected studies from the department indicate potential benefits of integrated interventions,including improvements in metabolic parameters and symptom outcomes; however, these findings are interpreted cautiously, with clear distinction between empirical evidence and clinical observation.Key challenges include variability in the evidence base, issues of standardization, and the need for additional training and cross- disciplinary coordination. Comparison with international models highlightsopportunities for structured curriculum development and scalability. Integrative psychiatry, as exemplified by the NIMHANS model, may complement conventional psychiatric care. Further evaluation is requiredto establish its effectiveness, generalizability, and role in psychiatric training.