Impact of exercise on patients with depression and anxiety.
BACKGROUND
Persons with common mental disorders are at risk of lowered physical activity.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate if patients with depressive and/or anxiety disorders can achieve a level of physical activity meeting public health recommendations, increase their physical fitness and quality of life (QoL) through participation in a physical exercise programme.


METHODS
In a non-blinded controlled study, 48 patients referred by private psychiatric clinics and private general practices were either treated in an intervention (n=27) or a control group (n=21). The intervention group took part in 20 weeks of group exercise consisting of aerobic training and non-aerobic weight-lifting. All participants were interviewed and tested at baseline, week 20 and at week 32.


RESULTS
The intervention group increased in physical activity (120 min/week) and VO(2)max (0.48 ml O(2)/min). The VO(2)max increase was maintained after a 12-week follow-up period. Findings should be conservatively interpreted because of high attrition rate.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with anxiety and/or depressive disorders who participated in a structured, supervised exercise programme achieved in accordance with public health recommendations a higher level of physical activity and VO(2)max.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical implications of the study may be a suggestion of offering physical exercise to milder and moderate severe cases of depression and anxiety.
Oeland
Anne-Marie
AM
Unit for Psychiatric Research, Aalborg Psychiatric Hospital, Denmark.
Laessoe
Uffe
U
Olesen
Anne V
AV
Munk-Jørgensen
Povl
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011594:Psychometrics; D012008:Recurrence; D055815:Young Adult
D010100:Oxygen