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[Anxiety disorders and physical exercise].
Sônia Regina Cassiano de Araújo1, Marco Túlio de Mello, José Roberto Leite
1Departamento de Psicobiologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
Revista Brasileira De Psiquiatria (Sao Paulo, Brazil : 1999)
|July 20, 2007
Summary
Physical exercise shows promise as an adjunctive therapy for anxiety disorders. Aerobic exercise below the lactate threshold appears most beneficial, but caution is advised with anaerobic exercise for individuals with pathological anxiety.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Science
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Context:
- Early research on exercise and anxiety primarily focused on young, healthy populations, limiting generalizability to individuals with anxiety disorders.
- Recent research trends indicate a growing interest in exploring the anxiolytic effects of physical activity in clinical populations.
- This review addresses the evolving body of literature on exercise interventions for anxiety disorders.
Purpose:
- To systematically review and synthesize findings from studies investigating the influence of physical exercise on anxiety disorders.
- To evaluate the methodological quality and identify trends in research on exercise and anxiety.
- To provide evidence-based insights into the role of exercise as an adjunct therapy for anxiety.
Summary:
- The review identified heterogeneous study designs and methodological limitations across the analyzed literature.
- Emerging research suggests that physical exercise can be a valuable complementary treatment for anxiety disorders.
- Aerobic exercise performed below the lactate threshold is indicated as potentially optimal for managing anxiety symptoms.
Impact:
- Highlights the potential of exercise as a non-pharmacological intervention for anxiety disorders.
- Identifies aerobic exercise below the lactate threshold as a promising modality for anxiety management.
- Recommends caution regarding the prescription of anaerobic exercise for individuals with pathological anxiety, pending further research.
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