title: Leisure-time physical activity and psychotropic medication: a prospective cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical inactivity is a major public health problem associated with an increased risk of mental health problems. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of leisure-time physical activity with subsequent psychotropic medication among middle-aged people employed at baseline.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire survey data collected in 2000-02 among 40-60-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki (N = 8960) were linked with register data on prescribed psychotropic medication (74% gave permission to linkage). The mean follow-up time was 4.2 years. The analysis included 5961 respondents (78% women). The participants were classified into four groups according to physical activity recommendations. Cox regression analysis was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) for the first psychotropic medication purchase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Leisure-time physical activity was associated with decreased risk of any psychotropic medication. After adjusting for prior psychotropic medication conditioning exercisers (HR = 0.65, 95% CI, 0.53-0.80), the vigorously active (HR = 0.83, 95% CI, 0.71-0.98) and the moderately active (HR = 0.85, 95% CI, 0.74-0.97) all showed a reduced risk of medication compared with the inactive. The associations were similar for the two main groups of psychotropic medication: antidepressants as well as sedatives and sleep medication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leisure-time physical activity is potentially important for preventing mental health problems among the middle-aged.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland. jouni.mm.lahti@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Jouni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lahti
authors.forename: Tea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lallukka
authors.forename: Eero
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lahelma
authors.forename: Ossi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rahkonen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Exercise; Mental health; Physical activity