Exercise Program on Reducing Anxiety and Improving Metabolic Indicators for Patients With Anxiety Disorders

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of home-based exercise program on reducing anxiety levels and improving metabolic indicators for patients with anxiety disorders. 

Methods: A randomized experimental design with convenient sampling was used to recruit 86 subjects from a psychiatric clinic. Three measures were a pre-test before exercise program, a post-test at one week and a follow-up test at 3 months after receiving exercise program. Four self-report scales and biological physical assessments were used for measuring personal data, lifestyle behaviors, anxiety and metabolic control functions in this study.

Results: A total of 86 subjects were recruited and randomly assigned into two groups.  Of these, 83 subjects completed the post-test including 41 subjects in experimental group and 42 in control group. The average of state and trait anxiety levels were 50.85 (SD=8.97) and 56.18 (SD= 10.02) indicating moderate anxiety levels were reported by study subjects.  The majority of them (n=50, 60.2%) reported taking medicine regular for anxiety treatment during past six months. The prevalence of MetS of two groups in post test and follow-up test showed the positive effects influenced by HB exercise program.  The prevalence of Mets was reduced for subjects in experimental group from 39.02% (n = 16) to 26.82% (n=11). In addition, the effect of HB exercise program on anxiety and metabolic control functions were analyzed the differences in mean scores for time, group, and time-group interaction in the experimental and control groups. The results revealed significant reduces in BMI (F=4.52, p=.013), state anxiety (F=9.35, p=.000) and trait anxiety (F=6.18, p=.003) between two groups from pre-test to 3-month follow-up. Meanwhile, the significant increases in HDL values (F=4.60, p=.012), modeate exercise levels (F=37.15, p=.000) and quality of life scores (F=9.45, p=.000) were found between groups from pre-test to 3-month follow-up.

Conclusion: The home-based exercise program intervention have stronger evidence in reducing anxiety levels but have an efficient short time effects on metabolic indicators improvement for Taiwanese adults with anxiety disorders.