The Benefits of Physical Exercise on Mental Disorders and Quality of Life in Substance Use Disorders Patients. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Jorge Giménez-Meseguer, Juan Tortosa-Martínez and Juan M. Cortell-Tormo
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Jorge Giménez-Meseguer: Faculty of Education, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
Juan Tortosa-Martínez: Faculty of Education, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
Juan M. Cortell-Tormo: Faculty of Education, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-36

Abstract: Physical exercise seems to have a promising effect on numerous variables related to the recovery of drug-dependent patients. However, some contradictions are found in the literature. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis in order to identify the effect of physical exercise on mental disorders, quality of life, abstinence, and craving, and make a comparison of the effect of exercise depending on the type of program. A search for articles was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Studies were selected that measured the acute effects or long-term effect (?2 weeks) of exercise in patients who met criteria for alcohol use disorders or substance use disorders. A total of 59 studies were included. An effect of exercise on quality of life and mental disorders was identified. Subgroup analysis revealed an effect of exercise on stress (SMD = 1.11 (CI: 0.31, 1.91); z = 2.73; p = 0.006), anxiety (SMD = 0.50 (CI: 0.16, 0.84); z = 2.88; p = 0.004) and depression (SMD = 0.63 (CI: 0.34, 0.92); z = 4.31; p < 0.0001), and an effect of exercise on the eight variables included in the SF36 test. The results also showed a trend towards a positive effect on craving (SMD = 0.89 (CI: ?0.05, 1.82); z = 1.85, p = 0.06). Body–mind activities and programs based on improving physical conditions produced similar results in mental disorders and quality of life. Available evidence indicates that physical exercise, both body–mind and physical fitness programs, can be effective in improving mental disorders, craving, and quality of life in drug-dependent patients.

Keywords: substance use disorders; drug addiction; physical exercise; physical activity; quality of life; mental disorders; anxiety; depression; stress; craving (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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