Table 1 Characteristics of Studies; Exercise Group vs Waiting list Control Group
Author | Study Size | Diagnostic criteria | Intervention | Control Group | Were groups matched for time spent with the trainer? | Long Term Follow up | Outcome measure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Herring 2012 (a)[35] | n = 20 | Patients meeting DSM IV criteria for Generalised Anxiety Disorder. | Supervised aerobic exercise, twice per week for 8 weeks. | Untreated waiting list group.. | No | No | Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) |
Herring 2012(b) | n = 20 | Patients meeting DSM IV criteria for Generalised Anxiety Disorder | Resistance Exercise. | Untreated Waiting list control group | No | No | Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) |
Jazaieri et al.. 2012[34] | n = 54 | Patients with DSM IV social anxiety disorder as measured on the ADIS-IV-L scale | 3 sessions of aerobic exercise per week over two months. 2 individual and 1 group. Intensity and Heart rate not measured. Duration 10 weeks | Untreated SAD group | No | No | Liebowitz Social anxiety self-report scale (LSAS-SR), Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS-S) |
Smits et al.. 2008 [36] | n = 35 | Elevated Anxiety Sensitivity > 25 on the Anxiety Sensitivity Index | Six 20 min aerobic exercise sessions over two weeks on a treadmill. | Untreated waiting list control group. | No | Follow up at 3 weeks | Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) |
Merom et al.. 2007 [23] | n = 74 | Patients meeting DSM IV criteria for Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder or Social Phobia | 8 week programme of 30 min walking sessions, measured with pedometer, increasing to 5 sessions per week. Intensity not measured. Also had CBT and education | CBT and education | Yes, sessions with the exercise trainer were matched with CBT educational sessions in control group. | The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS 21) | |
Mailey et al..........., 2010 [37] | n = 51 | Students with clinically raised anxiety levels | Internet delivered programme, over a 10 week time period. Activity measured with an accelerometer. Counselling. | Counselling | No | No | State trait anxiety Inventory (STAI trait) |
Broman-Fulks, 2008 [33] | n = 24 | Score higher than non-clinical mean on Anxiety sensitivity score | Aerobic exercise 6 twenty min. Sessions over a 2 week time period. Subjects fitted with polaris monitor. HR 60–90% maximum | waiting list control | No, controls attended to fill in the ASR-I only. | No | Anxiety Sensitivy Index (ASI) |
Wedekind 2010 [38] | n = 37 | DSM IV criteria for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. | Exercise for 45 mins 3 times per week, initially walking increasing to running. Duration was 10 weeks. | Relaxation plus placebo | No | No | Clnical Global Impression Scale (CGI) |
Brooks et al 1998 [39] | n = 31 | Patients meeting the DSM III criteria for panic disorder and Agoraphobia | A four mile route to be walked, progressing to running 3 times per week for 10 weeks. Also one training session per week. | Placebo group | No | No | HADS, Panic and Agorsphobia scale (P&A) |
Villaverde et al 2012 [40] | n = 36 | Menopausal women with clinically raised anxiety according to the HRSA scale | Six month programme of 6o min sessions 3 times per weeks including aerobic and resistance exercise performed to 60–80% HR max. | Waiting list control group | No | No | Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) |
Medina et al 2015 [41] | n = 60 | Elevated Anxiety Sensitivity > 25 on the Anxiety Sensitivity Index | Six 20-min moderate intensity aerobic exercise sessions over two weeks (three sessions per week), | Untreated waiting list control group. | No | No | Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) |