Impact of exercise on patients with depression and anxiety

Abstract

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 VO₂max (0.48 ml O₂/min). The VO₂max 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 VO₂max. 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.

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Exercise
• Physical activity
• Quality of life

Acknowledgments

This study was partly supported by grants from: Fonden for Faglig Udvikling af Speciallægepraksis, Danske Fysioterapeuters Forskningsfond, Aase og Ejnar Danielsens Fond, Eli og Egon Larsens Fond, and Aarhus Universitets Forsknings Fond. The authors would like to acknowledge the following psychiatrists and general practitioners for referring patients: Mie Aarup, Bjarne Lund Christensen, Marja den Engelsmann, Kirsten Gormsen, Elisabeth Kellmer, Ludvig Nielsen, Birgitte Lund Ovesen, Marianne Siersbaek, Claus Skov-Madsen, Jens Thimmer and Hans Henrik Wernlund.

Disclosure of interest: Povl Munk-Jørgensen has since January 2007 received non-conditional grants, and/or minor honoraria from H. Lundbeck A/S, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Janssen-Cilag A/S and Bristol-Myers Squibb. AM Oeland, U Laessoe and AV Olesen have nothing to declare.