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Impact of exercise on patients with depression and anxiety
Anne-Marie Oeland1, Uffe Laessoe, Anne V Olesen
1Unit for Psychiatric Research, Aalborg Psychiatric Hospital, Denmark.
Background:
Persons with common mental disorders are at risk of lowered physical activity.
Aims:
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.
Clinical Implications:
The clinical implications of the study may be a suggestion of offering physical exercise to milder and moderate severe cases of depression and anxiety.
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