Exercise is not only great for the body, it can also be beneficial for mental health.
Researchers reported in a new study that exercise can have many therapeutic effects for young adults who are suffering from a severe mental health disorder. The study aimed to test the benefits of exercise via the gym or participation in sports activities in patients who had already gone through at least one episode of psychosis, which occurs when a person becomes disconnected from reality and can have delusions or hallucinations. The researchers recruited 38 people who were between the ages of 18 and 35. All of the patients were already on antipsychotic drugs.
The researchers enrolled 31 patients into an exercise regimen that lasted 10 weeks. The patients were supposed to exercise for at least 90 minutes per week. The remaining seven patients acted as the control group and did not participate in any exercise program. The severity and frequency of the patients' symptoms were recorded.
At the end of the program, the researchers found that patients from the exercise group, who ended up working out for 107 minutes per week, had an average decline of 29 percent in the overall severity and frequency of their symptoms. The participants from the control group experienced an average decline of nearly eight percent. The symptoms that improved the most were social withdrawal and low motivation.
The researchers did not uncover why exercise helped the patients but lead author Joseph Firth noted how in other studies, researchers had found that exercise can help people redirect their negative thoughts and emotions. Exercise also releases endorphins, which are known as feel-good chemicals that can boost mood.
"Exercise was also said to produce an energizing 'feel good' effect for the young people, helping them to overcome the motivational deficits associated with psychosis," said Firth, who is a postgraduate research student in the Institute of Brain, Behavior and Mental Health at the University of Manchester in England.
He added that young patients dealing with psychosis should consider starting an exercise routine with supervision. Getting help and guidance from a professional, such as a trainer, can make exercise more enjoyable.
The study was published in the journal, Early Intervention in Psychiatry.
