Effects of Acute Exercise on Affect in Females with Substance Use Disorder

Negative mood states experienced during the withdrawal stage of substance dependence have been associated with relapse in persons suffering from substance use disorder (SUD). Exercise is gaining attention as an adjunct therapy for SUD due to its ability to alleviate negative mood states experienced during withdrawal. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of acute, controlled bouts of aerobic and resistance exercise versus sedentary control (quiet reading) on positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) in females undergoing SUD treatment at inpatient facilities. Females (n=11; 34 ± 8 yrs) were randomly assigned to each condition in counterbalanced fashion. Aerobic exercise (AE) consisted of 20 minutes of steady-state moderate intensity (40-60% HRR) treadmill walking. Resistance exercise (RE) consisted of 20 minutes of standardized circuit weight training (1:1 work to rest ratio). The Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) was used to assess PA and NA pre- and post-interventions. Repeated measures ANOVAs indicated AE and RE significantly increased PA (p < 0.05) versus control, with no significant difference between AE and RE. Friedman's test revealed AE and RE significantly reduced NA (p < 0.05) versus control. Results indicate short bouts of aerobic and resistance exercise are equally effective for acute mood regulation and superior to a sedentary control in females undergoing inpatient SUD treatment.