Abstract
Anxiety and depression are the most frequently diagnosed psychological diseases showing a high co-morbidity. They have a severe impact on the lives of the persons concerned. Many meta-analytical studies suggested a positive anxiolytic and depression-reducing effect of exercise programs. The aim of the present article is to synthesize metaanalyses on the effects of exercise on anxiety and depression and to describe average effect sizes. For this purpose 37 meta-analyses were included reporting 50 effect sizes for anxiety scores of 42,264 participants and depression scores of 48,207 persons. The average documented anxiolytic effect of exercise in these reviews was small, 0.34. In contrast, the effect of exercise on depression was significantly higher and at a moderate level, 0.56. Data of randomized controlled trials suggest higher sizes for the effect of exercise on anxiety and depression leading to increases up to moderate and large effects, respectively. Additionally, exercise seems to be more beneficial for patients compared to participants within a non-clinical, normal range of psychological disease. Especially for the effect of exercise on anxiety, more high quality meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials are needed. Finally, possible neurobiological explanations are suggested for the positive effect of exercise on psychological disorders like anxiety and depression.
Keywords: Anxiety, depression, exercise, meta-analysis, mood, neurobiology.
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets
Title:Effects of Exercise on Anxiety and Depression Disorders: Review of Meta- Analyses and Neurobiological Mechanisms
Volume: 13 Issue: 6
Author(s): Mirko Wegner, Ingo Helmich, Sergio Machado, Antonio E. Nardi, Oscar Arias-Carrion and Henning Budde
Affiliation:
Keywords: Anxiety, depression, exercise, meta-analysis, mood, neurobiology.
Abstract: Anxiety and depression are the most frequently diagnosed psychological diseases showing a high co-morbidity. They have a severe impact on the lives of the persons concerned. Many meta-analytical studies suggested a positive anxiolytic and depression-reducing effect of exercise programs. The aim of the present article is to synthesize metaanalyses on the effects of exercise on anxiety and depression and to describe average effect sizes. For this purpose 37 meta-analyses were included reporting 50 effect sizes for anxiety scores of 42,264 participants and depression scores of 48,207 persons. The average documented anxiolytic effect of exercise in these reviews was small, 0.34. In contrast, the effect of exercise on depression was significantly higher and at a moderate level, 0.56. Data of randomized controlled trials suggest higher sizes for the effect of exercise on anxiety and depression leading to increases up to moderate and large effects, respectively. Additionally, exercise seems to be more beneficial for patients compared to participants within a non-clinical, normal range of psychological disease. Especially for the effect of exercise on anxiety, more high quality meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials are needed. Finally, possible neurobiological explanations are suggested for the positive effect of exercise on psychological disorders like anxiety and depression.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Wegner Mirko, Helmich Ingo, Machado Sergio, Nardi E. Antonio, Arias-Carrion Oscar and Budde Henning, Effects of Exercise on Anxiety and Depression Disorders: Review of Meta- Analyses and Neurobiological Mechanisms, CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets 2014; 13 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871527313666140612102841
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871527313666140612102841 |
Print ISSN 1871-5273 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1996-3181 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Diagnosis and treatment of central nervous system infectious diseases
Infectious diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) can be divided into bacterial, tuberculous, viral, fungal, parasitic infections, etc. Early etiological treatment is often the most crucial means to reduce the mortality rate of patients with central nervous system infections, reduce complications and sequelae, and improve prognosis. The initial clinical ...read more
Techniques of Drug Repurposing: Delivering a new life to Herbs & Drugs
Of late, with the adaptation of innovative approaches and integration of advancements made towards medical sciences as well as the availability of a wide range of tools; several therapeutic challenges are being translated into viable clinical solutions, with a high degree of efficacy, safety, and selectivity. With a better understanding ...read more
Trends and perspectives in the rational management of CNS disorders
Central nervous system (CNS) diseases enforce a significant global health burden, driving ongoing efforts to improve our understanding and effectiveness of therapy. This issue investigates current advances in the discipline, focusing on the understanding as well as therapeutic handling of various CNS diseases. The issue covers a variety of diseases, ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Advances in Catheter Ablation: Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in Patients With Mitral Mechanical Prosthetic Valve
Current Cardiology Reviews Non-pharmacological Strategies Against Systemic Inflammation: Molecular Basis and Clinical Evidence
Current Pharmaceutical Design Mood Stabilizers, Oxidative Stress and Antioxidative Defense in Euthymia of Bipolar Disorder
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Physico-Chemical Changes and Stability of Nutraceutical in Rice Bran Oil During Simulated Domestic Frying
Current Nutrition & Food Science The Role of Calcium and the L-Type Calcium Channel in Pathological Remodeling of the Heart
Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued) Molecular Targets and Natural Compounds in Drug Development for the Treatment of Inflammatory Pain
Current Drug Targets Cerebrovascular Complications After Heart Transplantation
Current Cardiology Reviews Insulin Resistance in the Early Stages of Renal Failure: Implications for Cardiovascular Risk
Current Diabetes Reviews Salvia miltiorrhiza: A Potential Red Light to the Development of Cardiovascular Diseases
Current Pharmaceutical Design Current Role and Future Perspectives of Radioiodinated MIBG in the Evaluation of Dementia with Lewy Bodies
Current Radiopharmaceuticals Anti-platelet Drug-loaded Targeted Technologies for the Effective Treatment of Atherothrombosis
Current Drug Targets Pre-eclampsia Versus Cardiovascular Disease Versus CRP
Current Hypertension Reviews Oral Antidiabetic Agents: Anti-Atherosclerotic Properties Beyond Glucose Lowering?
Current Pharmaceutical Design Thymosin β4 Protein Therapy for Cardiac Repair
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Molecular Concept of Atheromatous Plaques
Current Drug Targets Assessment of Endothelial Function by Positron Emission Tomography
Current Cardiology Reviews Halting Arterial Aging in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease: Hypolipidemic and Antihypertensive Therapy
Current Pharmaceutical Design Hybrid Stress Testing by Adenosine Infusion and Exercise Myocardial Perfusion Imaging: A Critical Appraisal
Current Cardiology Reviews S-Nitrosylation: Targets, Controls and Outcomes
Current Genomics Fish Oil Fatty Acids as Cardiovascular Drugs
Current Vascular Pharmacology