title: A pilot trial of a videogame-based exercise program for methadone maintained patients.
abstract: Few studies have examined exercise as a substance use disorder treatment. This pilot study investigated the feasibility and acceptability of an exercise intervention comprising the Wii Fit Plus™ and of a time-and-attention sedentary control comprising Wii™ videogames. We also explored their impact on physical activity levels, substance use, and psychological wellness. Twenty-nine methadone-maintained patients enrolled in an 8-week trial were randomly assigned to either Active Game Play (Wii Fit Plus™ videogames involving physical exertion) or Sedentary Game Play (Wii™ videogames played while sitting). Participants had high satisfaction and study completion rates. Active Game Play participants reported greater physical activity outside the intervention than Sedentary Game Play participants despite no such differences at baseline. Substance use decreased and stress and optimism improved in both conditions. Active Game Play is a feasible and acceptable exercise intervention, and Sedentary Game Play is a promising time-and-attention control. Further investigations of these interventions are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT 06511 United States; Pain Treatment Services, APT Foundation, Inc., New Haven, CT 06519 United States. Electronic address: christopher.cutter@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cutter
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT 06511 United States.
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Schottenfeld
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT 06511 United States.
authors.forename: Brent A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT 06511 United States.
authors.forename: Samuel A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT 06511 United States; Pain Treatment Services, APT Foundation, Inc., New Haven, CT 06519 United States.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beitel
authors.affiliation: Pain Treatment Services, APT Foundation, Inc., New Haven, CT 06519 United States.
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Savant
authors.affiliation: Northern Illinois University, IL 60115 United States.
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Stults-Kolehmainen
authors.affiliation: Pain Treatment Services, APT Foundation, Inc., New Haven, CT 06519 United States.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Doucette
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT 06511 United States; Pain Treatment Services, APT Foundation, Inc., New Haven, CT 06519 United States.
authors.forename: Declan T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Barry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D005082:Physical Exertion; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018910:Video Games
chemical_list: D008691:Methadone
keywords: Exercise; Methadone; Opioid-related disorders; Video games