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
-
Targeting Cancer Cells with Photoactive Silica Nanoparticles
Current Pharmaceutical Design Potential Options to Treat Hypertriglyceridaemia
Current Drug Targets Taking Risk Prediction to the Next Level. Advances in Biomarker Research for Atherosclerosis
Current Pharmaceutical Design Drugs of Abuse: Epigenetic Mechanisms in Toxicity and Addiction
Current Medicinal Chemistry Medicinal Agents in the Metabolic Syndrome
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Markers of Systemic Inflammation in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Obesity, Hypertension and Hypercholesterolemia as Risk Factors for Atherosclerosis Leading to Ischemic Events
Current Medicinal Chemistry Triiodothyronine (T3) Effects on Cardiovascular System in Patients with Heart Failure
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Neutrophil Cell Count is Related to Hypertension in Workers: A Cross- Sectional Study
Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued) How Effective are the Lipid Modifying Medicines at Preventing Coronary Heart Disease in Patients with the Metabolic Syndrome?
Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued) Experimental Benefits of Sex Hormones on Vascular Function and the Outcome of Hormone Therapy in Cardiovascular Disease
Current Cardiology Reviews α-Fluorinated Ethers as “Exotic” Entity in Medicinal Chemistry
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Exploring the Management of Statin Intolerant Patients: 2016 and Beyond
Current Vascular Pharmacology The Role of Endothelin System in Cardiovascular Disease and the Potential Therapeutic Perspectives of its Inhibition
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Modulation of Mitochondrial Permeability Transition in Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury of the Heart. Advantages and Limitations
Current Medicinal Chemistry Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope, Raman Microscopy and Western Blotting to Evaluate Inflammatory Response after Myocardial Infarction
Current Vascular Pharmacology Recent Studies on Neural Tube Defects in Embryos of Diabetic Pregnancy: An Overview
Current Medicinal Chemistry Pharmacogenomics: A Tool to Prevent and Cure Coronary Heart Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design Relationship Between the Pharmacokinetics of Levosimendan and Its Effects on Cardiovascular System
Current Drug Metabolism Role of Molecular Analysis After Autopsy Negative Sudden Death in the Young
Current Pediatric Reviews