About this Research Topic
Several studies in an animal model using Neurotrophic Factors, Oxidative Stress, Immunologic response and other biological markers reveal promising results. However, few studies were done in clinical patients, showing the necessity of more studies exploring these and other possible explanations to the clinical effects of physical activity.
Additional to the antidepressant and anxiolytic effects, exercise appears improve QoL in major depressed, bipolar and anxiety patients. Theoretically, this increase may be associated with cognitive improvements, improvements at sleep quality, physical functioning, as well as other psychological issues as self-esteem, self-concept, and general well-being, prevent weight gain associated with the diagnosis or the pharmacological treatment (e.g: antipsychotic). This QoL improvement may possible due to the positive impact in many, but few studies investigate in the relationships between this issues and QoL in patients with affective and anxiety disorders.
The propose of this topic is to address the novelty and most recent research, related to antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of physical activity and exercise in patients with affective and anxiety disorders, as well as the issues associated with QoL improvement in these patients. Desired studies include (but are not limited to) the following topics:
- Clinical trials using exercise and physical activity as a treatment affective and anxiety disorders.
- Studies investigating the optimal prescription factors (dose, volume, intensity, setting, frequency) associated with antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of physical activity and exercise for affective and anxiety disorder patients.
- Original studies, comprehensive reviews, hypothesis and opinions concerning the mechanisms of antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of physical activity and exercise in affective and anxiety disorder patients.
- Original studies, comprehensive reviews, hypothesis and opinions concerning other benefits of physical activity and exercise like : cognition, weight gain prevention and QoL in affective and anxiety disorder patients.
- Translational research.
- Studies of cost-efficacy analysis.
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