The effect of regular exercise on depression, anxiety, treatment motivation and mindfulness in addiction: a randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT

Objective

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of regular exercise on depressive anxiety symptoms, treatment motivation and mindfulness levels in individuals who are alcohol or substance dependent.

Methods

The study had two arms and was randomized controlled: (A) Patients assigned to standard medical treatment, (B) Patients who receive standard treatment are also given access to supervised group exercise. Patients in the exercise group were given exercise for 3 weeks. Hamilton Anxiety (HAM-A), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), Treatment Motivation Scale (TMQ) and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) were administered to the patients at the beginning and end of the treatment.

Results

There was a decrease in HAM-A, HAM-D scores, an increase in TMQ and MAAS scores, and improvement after treatment in both groups. However, there was a significant change in HAM-A, HAM-D and TMQ scores in the group that added exercise to their treatment compared to the group that received only standard therapy. There was no significant difference in MAAS scores.

Conclusion

It was discovered as a result that including exercise in addiction therapy could enhance the therapeutic response. Longer-term studies with greater sample sizes must be planned and carried out to produce more trustworthy results.

KEYWORDS:

• Addiction
• regular exercise
• mindfulness
• treatment motivation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

There was no external support for this study.