Cited by 291Physical Activity and HealthAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesCardiac Health and Mental Health

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 113 of the 115 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 5 of the 106 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Moving to Beat Anxiety: Epidemiology and Therapeutic Issues with Physical Activity for Anxiety

Open access

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this paper was to provide a comprehensive narrative review of the relationship between physical activity (PA) and anxiety and the rationale for including it as a treatment option for anxiety disorders. Several gaps in the literature are highlighted alongside recommendations for future research. RECENT FINDINGS: PA in the general population has established efficacy in preventing and managing cardiovascular disease and improving wellbeing. Recent epidemiological data further suggests that people who are more active may be less likely to have anxiety disorders. In addition, evidence from systematic reviews of randomised control trials suggests that exercise training, a subset of PA, can reduce symptoms in anxiety and stress-related disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, agoraphobia and panic disorder. Anxiety disorders are common, burdensome and costly to individuals and wider society. In addition to the profound negative impact on individuals' wellbeing and functioning, they are associated with worsened physical health, including a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases and premature mortality. Although pharmacotherapy and psychological interventions are helpful for many, these treatment approaches are not effective for everyone and are insufficient to address common physical health complications, such as the elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. Given the combined anxiolytic and physical health benefits of increased activity, PA presents a promising additional treatment option for people with anxiety disorders. However, there remain key gaps in the literature regarding the mechanisms underlying the effects of PA, optimal PA protocols, methods of improving adherence and the importance of physical fitness. These must be addressed for PA to be successfully implemented in mental health services.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This narrative review argues that physical activity (PA) is associated with reduced anxiety symptoms and may be a promising adjunctive or preventive treatment for anxiety disorders, with additional physical-health benefits. It highlights major gaps in mechanisms, optimal protocols, adherence, and the role of physical fitness that must be addressed before PA can be implemented in mental health services.

Key findings

  • Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent, with global estimates ranging from 3.8 to 25% across countries and up to 70% in people with chronic health conditions; they are the sixth leading cause of global disability, accounting for 26.8 million disability-adjusted life years.
  • People with anxiety disorders are 52% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than the general population, and traditional treatments leave up to one-third of patients not responding.
  • PA, typically exercise-based interventions, has small-to-moderate effects on reducing anxiety symptoms in clinical and non-clinical populations, and may reduce symptoms in trauma/stress-related disorders such as PTSD, panic disorder, and agoraphobia.
  • A small study (N = 18) found less panic reaction to CO2 in patients performing moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise versus very light intensity, but the paper notes it is likely underpowered and not designed for causal inference.

Methods

  • Design: comprehensive narrative review of the relationship between PA and anxiety and the rationale for including PA as a treatment option for anxiety disorders.
  • Data/sample: no primary data collection; synthesizes epidemiological studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on PA/exercise and anxiety across clinical and non-clinical populations.
  • Analysis: narrative synthesis of evidence on prevalence, treatment gaps, mechanisms, optimal PA protocols, adherence, and physical fitness, with recommendations for future research.

Limitations

  • The paper states that the precise mechanisms by which PA reduces anxiety remain unclear, including HPA-axis, neurogenic, inflammatory, endocannabinoid, and psychological pathways.
  • The paper states that optimal PA protocols are unknown, including frequency, intensity, duration, type, dose-response, and comparative effects of aerobic versus resistance training; adherence is often poor, and dropout rates are traditionally high in mental health populations.
  • The paper states that few studies account for baseline or changes in physical fitness, and there is a lack of RCTs measuring physical health outcomes in people with anxiety disorders. Evident from the text: as a narrative review, it does not describe a systematic search strategy or formal quality appraisal, so conclusions depend on the selected cited literature.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1007/s11920-018-0923-x

Cites

113 of 113 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

45 Not checked yet · 11 Own interpretation · 7 No basis given · 2 Supported so far · 1 Partly supported · accuracy not yet measured

Verify all 101 references — free account

Show all 39 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 21
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 11
27 of 27
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Physical activity has few adverse side effects.

    “In addition to having few adverse side effects, PA may have further benefits for daily functioning as research has found exercise training to produce improved neurocognitive performances in people with mental health conditions such as schizophrenia or depression [44, 45].”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Physical activity-based interventions are low-cost.

    “The low-cost, low-risk nature of PA means that such interventions could be a useful treatment option for anxiety.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Physical health problems associated with anxiety disorders and comorbidities are not directly caused by anxiety.

    “Given that the physical health problems associated with anxiety disorders and comorbidities, and not directly caused by anxiety, improving the poor physical health, outcomes associated with anxiety disorders cannot be achieved using pharmacotherapy or CBT alone.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Preventative strategies effective for other mental health conditions such as depression are likely to be effective for anxiety.

    “Promoting PA has already been suggested as a promising preventative strategy for other mental health conditions such as depression [109]⁠ and may represent a cost-effective and practical method of reducing the prevalence of anxiety and anxiety-related disorders.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    People with anxiety disorders have a significant physical health burden.

    “However, despite the physical health burden in people with anxiety disorders, relatively, little is known about the benefits of PA on physical health and cardiovascular disease in this population.”
5 of 5

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Metadata

Authors
Kandola, A., Vancampfort, D., Herring, M., Rebar, A., Hallgren, M., Firth, J., & Stubbs, B.
Affiliations
  • South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
  • KU Leuven (BE)
  • University of Limerick (IE)
  • Central Queensland University (AU)
  • Karolinska Institutet (SE)
  • University of Manchester (GB)
  • King's College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Kandola, Aaron
Venue
Current Psychiatry Reports
Published
2018-07-24
Volume
20
Issue
8
Pages
63-63
ISSN
  • 1523-3812 (ISSN-L)
  • 1535-1645
OpenAlex
W2884190723
Cited by
291
References
115
Citations by year
2026: 30 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 56 · 2023: 45 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 49 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 2
FWCI
2.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Current Psychiatry Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • University of Limerick Institutional Repository (University of Limerick) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • University of Limerick Institutional Repository (University of Limerick) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • Lirias (KU Leuven) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Acquire (CQUniversity) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Arrow@dit (Dublin Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • University of Limerick Institutional Repository (University of Limerick)
Funders
King's College London
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Physical Activity and Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac Health and Mental Health
Keywords
physical activity, anxiety disorders, exercise training, post-traumatic stress disorder, agoraphobia, panic disorder, cardiovascular disease, physical fitness, exercise adherence, mental health services, stress-related disorders
MeSH terms
Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Exercise Therapy, Humans, Mental Health, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Exercise

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