Abstract
BackgroundAnxiety disorders are common and associated with reduced quality of life, impaired physical and mental health and an increased economic burden for society. While evidence exists for the effectiveness of exercise treatment for depression, there is a need for high-quality randomized clinical trials (RCT) with a focus on anxiety disorders. Further research is also warranted regarding outcomes of cognitive function, other health-related variables, dose-response effects, work ability and potential mechanisms.Method/designUsing a parallel, RCT design with three assessment points (baseline, post-intervention and one-year follow-up), we aim to assess the effect of a 12-week exercise intervention in primary care patients with anxiety disorders (n = 180), diagnosed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I; Swedish version 6.0.0d DSM-IV). Participants are randomly assigned to three physical exercise groups: one low-intensity training group, one moderate- to high intensity training group and one control non-exercise group. Assessments include measures of anxiety symptoms, cognitive function, physical health variables such as cardiovascular fitness, sick-leave and levels of hormones/cytokines in blood samples.DiscussionFindings from this study will provide novel insights regarding the effects of exercise treatment on not only anxiety symptoms but also other outcomes including mental and physical health, cognitive function, dose-response effects, work ability/sick leave and on biomarkers that may help explain underlying mechanisms.Trial registrationThe trial was registered at ClinicalTrial.gov NCT03247270 August 8, 2017.
Highlights
Anxiety disorders are common and associated with reduced quality of life, impaired physical and mental health and an increased economic burden for society
Findings from this study will provide novel insights regarding the effects of exercise treatment on anxiety symptoms and other outcomes including mental and physical health, cognitive function, doseresponse effects, work ability/sick leave and on biomarkers that may help explain underlying mechanisms
Key gaps in the literature remain regarding the effects of exercise on other mental and physical health variables in patients with anxiety disorders including cognitive function, cardiovascular fitness, optimal exercise protocols, work ability/sick leave as well as the underlying mechanisms of the effect of exercise on anxiety symptoms
Summary
This is an extensive intervention study (RCT) exploring the effects of exercise training in primary care patients with anxiety. The unique study design with several strengths will provide novel insights and include outcome measures for anxiety symptoms, and for a broad range of areas including mental and physical health, cognitive function, dose-response effects, work ability/sick leave and underlying mechanisms. If this exercise trial proves beneficial, this study will provide new directions for primary care service regarding prevention and treatment for persons with anxiety disorders. (PDF 111 kb) Additional file 2: Work ability PHYSBI.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have