title: The impact of exercise-only-based rehabilitation on depression and anxiety in patients after myocardial infarction.
abstract: The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of exercise training on depression, anxiety, physical capacity and sympatho-vagal balance in patients after myocardial infarction and compare differences between men and women.
  
  
  
  Thirty-two men aged 56.3±7.6 years and 30 women aged 59.2±8.1 years following myocardial infarction underwent an 8-week training programme consisting of 24 interval trainings on cycloergometer, three times a week. Before and after completing the training programme, patients underwent: depression intensity assessment with the Beck depression inventory; anxiety assessment with the state-trait anxiety inventory; a symptom-limited exercise test during which were analysed: maximal workload, duration, double product.
  
  
  
  In women the initial depression intensity was higher than in men, and decreased significantly after the training programme (14.8±8.7 vs. 10.5±8.8; P<0.01). The anxiety manifestation for state anxiety in women was higher than in men and decreased significantly after the training programme (45.7±9.7 vs. 40.8±0.3; P<0.01). Of note, no depression and anxiety manifestation was found in men. Physical capacity improved significantly after the training programme in all groups, and separately in men and in women. Moreover, an 8-week training programme favourably modified the parasympathetic tone.
  
  
  
  Participating in the exercise training programme contributed beneficially to a decrease in depression and anxiety manifestations in women post-myocardial infarction. Neither depression nor anxiety changed significantly in men. The impact of exercise training on physical capacity and autonomic balance was beneficial and comparable between men and women.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Noninvasive Electrocardiology, Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Korzeniowska-Kubacka
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Arrhythmia, Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bilińska
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Noninvasive Electrocardiology, Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piotrowska
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Noninvasive Electrocardiology, Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stepnowska
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Noninvasive Electrocardiology, Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Piotrowicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: Exercise only-based rehabilitation; anxiety; coronary artery disease; depression