Physical activity should be a “mainstay approach” for doctors treating patients with depression, anxiety and psychological distress. This is the evidenced-based conclusion published in a recent study from the University of South Australia, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, which was devised to help doctors improve management of patients with mental health disorders.
The researchers wanted to provide physicians with one body of evidence that amalgamated all previous studies, to prove the link between physical activity and its effective treatment of mental health disorders. Overall, they analysed 97 reviews – including 1,039 trials and 128,119 patients – from eligible studies published from inception to 1 January 2022.
The team said that previous research trials suggested that physical activity may have similar effects to psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy for patients with depression, anxiety or psychological distress. However, as different forms and doses of physical activity have been included, it was “difficult for clinicians to understand the body of evidence for physical activity in the management of mental health disorders”.
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