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Table 1 Characteristics of Studies; Exercise Group vs Waiting list Control Group

From: Exercise in the treatment of clinical anxiety in general practice – a systematic review and meta-analysis

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)
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