Malin Henriksson1, Alexander Wall2, Jenny Nyberg3, Martin Adiels4, Karin Lundin5, Ylva Bergh6, Robert Eggertsen7, Louise Danielsson8, H Georg Kuhn9, Maria Westerlund5, N David Åberg2, Margda Waern10, Maria Åberg11. 1. School of Public Health and Community Medicine/Primary Health Care, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Region Västra Götaland, Närhälsan, Gothenburg, Sweden. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Department of Acute Medicine and Geriatrics, Gothenburg, Sweden. 3. Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Neurology Clinic, Gothenburg, Sweden. 4. Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. 5. Region Västra Götaland, Regionhälsan, Gothenburg, Sweden. 6. Region Västra Götaland, Närhälsan, Gothenburg, Sweden. 7. School of Public Health and Community Medicine/Primary Health Care, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden; R&D Centre Gothenburg and Södra Bohuslän, Sweden. 8. Department of Health and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Region Västra Götaland, Angered Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. 9. Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Institute for Public Health, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. 10. Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Psychosis Clinic, Gothenburg, Sweden. 11. School of Public Health and Community Medicine/Primary Health Care, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Region Västra Götaland, Regionhälsan, Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: maria.aberg@gu.se.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is a need for high-quality research regarding exercise interventions for persons with anxiety disorders. We investigate whether a 12-week exercise intervention, with different intensities, could reduce anxiety symptoms in patients with anxiety disorders. METHODS: 286 patients were recruited from primary care in Sweden. Severity of symptoms was self-assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-S). Participants were randomly assigned to one of two group exercise programs with cardiorespiratory and resistance training and one control/standard treatment non-exercise group, with 1:1:1 allocation. RESULTS: Patients in both exercise groups showed larger improvements in both anxiety and depressive symptoms compared to the control group. No differences in effect sizes were found between the two groups. To study a clinically relevant improvement, BAI and MADRS-S were dichotomized with the mean change in the control group as reference. In adjusted models the odds ratio for improved symptoms of anxiety after low-intensity training was 3.62 (CI 1.34-9.76) and after moderate/high intensity 4.88 (CI 1.66-14.39), for depressive symptoms 4.96 (CI 1.81-13.6) and 4.36 (CI 1.57-12.08) respectively. There was a significant intensity trend for improvement in anxiety symptoms. LIMITATIONS: The use of self-rating measures which bears the risk of an under- or overestimation of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: A 12-week group exercise program proved effective for patients with anxiety syndromes in primary care. These findings strengthen the view of physical exercise as an effective treatment and could be more frequently made available in clinical practice for persons with anxiety issues.
BACKGROUND: There is a need for high-quality research regarding exercise interventions for persons with anxiety disorders. We investigate whether a 12-week exercise intervention, with different intensities, could reduce anxiety symptoms in patients with anxiety disorders. METHODS: 286 patients were recruited from primary care in Sweden. Severity of symptoms was self-assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-S). Participants were randomly assigned to one of two group exercise programs with cardiorespiratory and resistance training and one control/standard treatment non-exercise group, with 1:1:1 allocation. RESULTS: Patients in both exercise groups showed larger improvements in both anxiety and depressive symptoms compared to the control group. No differences in effect sizes were found between the two groups. To study a clinically relevant improvement, BAI and MADRS-S were dichotomized with the mean change in the control group as reference. In adjusted models the odds ratio for improved symptoms of anxiety after low-intensity training was 3.62 (CI 1.34-9.76) and after moderate/high intensity 4.88 (CI 1.66-14.39), for depressive symptoms 4.96 (CI 1.81-13.6) and 4.36 (CI 1.57-12.08) respectively. There was a significant intensity trend for improvement in anxiety symptoms. LIMITATIONS: The use of self-rating measures which bears the risk of an under- or overestimation of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: A 12-week group exercise program proved effective for patients with anxiety syndromes in primary care. These findings strengthen the view of physical exercise as an effective treatment and could be more frequently made available in clinical practice for persons with anxiety issues.
Authors: Cille H Sevild; Christopher P Niemiec; Sindre M Dyrstad; Lars Edvin Bru Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-24 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Jenny Nyberg; Malin Henriksson; Alexander Wall; Torbjörn Vestberg; Maria Westerlund; Marion Walser; Robert Eggertsen; Louise Danielsson; H Georg Kuhn; N David Åberg; Margda Waern; Maria Åberg Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2021-12-09 Impact factor: 3.630
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