Acute Effects of Brisk Walking on Psychological Well-being in Depressive Patients

Abstract

Background: We investigated effects of an acute exercise bout (AEB) on psychological well-being in depressive in-patients during psychiatric treatment. Methods: 23 patients with a total beck depression inventory score ? 18 were assessed on separate days in 2 randomly ordered conditions in a within-subject design: 30-min brisk walk or passive control (sitting and reading). Mood, psychological well being, affective activation and valence were assessed pre- and post- treatment, using mood survey scale (MSS), Activation Deactivation Adjective Check List (ADACL), Feeling Scale (FS) and Felt Arousal Scale (FAS). Findings: ANOVAs revealed sigificant condition x time interaction effects for MSS dimensions “lack of energy†(p=0,035), “activation†(p=0,017), “psychological agitation†(p=0,028) and “worry†(p=0,030) as well as for ADACL dimension “energetic arousal†(p=0,012). Discussion: Obtained data show positive effects of AEB on psychological well- being in depressive patients during inpatient treatment. Further trials should explore whether moderate physical activity at the beginning of psychiatric treatment improves the therapeutic outcome or not.