Abstract
ObjectivesTo examine the short-term effects of exercise on drug craving in poly-drug-dependent inpatients, duration of effects, differences between exercise types, explore the relationship between craving and mood, and possible moderators. DesignMulticenter randomized control trial (RCT) with a crossover design. Methods38 (25 completed) inpatients (37.3 ± 6.4 years; 84 % male) from three treatment centers participated in soccer, circuit training and control condition in random order for 45-min. Craving was assessed with a self-rated visual analog scale (VAS), mood with Feeling scale (FS), immediately before and after each condition and 1, 2, and 4 h post interventions. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and heart rate were assessed. Intervention effects were assessed using linear mixed effects model, including moderator analyses. ResultsExercise sessions were perceived as “somewhat hard” to “hard”. Compared to control, there was an immediate reduction in craving after soccer and circuit training (β = −1.35, 95 %CI: 1.96, −0.75, p = 0.000; β = -1.44, 95 %CI: 2.06, −0.83, p = 0.000) that persisted for 4 h (β = −1.11, 95 %CI: 1.72, −0.49, p = 0.000; β = -0.85, 95 %CI: 1.49, −0.22, p = 0.008). Elevations in mood after soccer (β = 1.08, 95 %CI: 0.41, 1.76, p = 0.002) and circuit training (β = 0.99, 95 %CI: 0.32, 1.67, p = 0.004) were significantly larger than control. Depressive disorder and primary drug of use might moderate the effect. ConclusionReduced drug cravings and elevated mood following soccer and circuit training were observed in people with poly-SUDs. Single exercise sessions can be an effective strategy to alleviate craving and potentially prevent relapse and treatment drop-out.
Highlights
Substance use disorders (SUD) contribute substantially to the global burden of disease with wide-reaching impacts on health and well-being
For the participants who did not adhere in all three interventions, lack of motivation and medical advice not to participate in the given intervention were reported as the causes
We found no difference between soccer and circuit training on craving, which suggests that effects of exercise are not dependent on the type of exercise
Summary
Substance use disorders (SUD) contribute substantially to the global burden of disease with wide-reaching impacts on health and well-being. Physical activity and its sub-set exercise (that is planned, structured, repetitive, and purposive physical activity to improve or maintenance physical fitness) has been suggested as an alternative or adjunctive treatment. It is usually inexpensive, highly accessible, non-stigmatizing, and rarely associated with side effects (Brellenthin, Crombie, Hillard, Brown, & Koltyn, 2019; Caspersen, Powell, & Christenson, 1985; Giesen, Deimel, & Bloch, 2015; Manthou et al, 2016; Probst, Manthey, Marti nez, & Rehm, 2015; Schuler, Puttaiah, Mojtabai, & Crum, 2015; Zschucke, Heinz, & Strohle, 2012). Studies suggest that physical activity and structured exercise can help prevent relapse, alleviate symptoms of comorbid disorders, and potentially reduce treatment costs (Abrantes & Blevins, 2019; Bernstein & McNally, 2017; Colledge, Gerber, Pühse, & Ludyga, 2018; Gimenez-Meseguer, Tortosa-Martínez, & Cortell-Tormo, 2020; Pareja-Galeano & Sanchis-Gomar, 2013; Weinstock, Farney, Elrod, Henderson, & Weiss, 2017)
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