Nazmin, Farhana and Go, Eliseo and Fagbemi, Moronkeji and Chowdhury, Fatima and Kasulis, Natasha and Sikandar, Saeed and Rahman, Saidur (2024) A systematic review of the benefits of physical exercise on mental health and quality of life in patients with substance use disorders. Cureus, 16, (9), e68781. 10.7759/cureus.68781.
External website: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11456...
Physical exercise is increasingly recognized for its potential therapeutic effects in individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs), particularly in terms of relapse prevention, mental health improvement, and enhanced quality of life (QoL). This systematic review aimed to statistically summarize findings from numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effects of physical exercise on mental health outcomes, QoL, abstinence-related outcomes, and cravings among SUD patients. A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, resulting in the inclusion of 15 studies, comprising RCTs, cohort studies, observational studies, and quasi-experimental designs. The review revealed a significant reduction in stress and depression, with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.63, indicating a moderate effect size. Patients engaging in physical exercise reported a higher QoL across various domains, although the trend toward reduced cravings was not statistically significant, suggesting a need for further research in this area. The findings suggest that physical exercise can positively contribute to the treatment of SUD patients by enhancing mental health and QoL.
G Health and disease > State of health > Mental health
G Health and disease > Substance use disorder (addiction)
G Health and disease > Substance related disorder > Substance related mental health disorder
HJ Treatment or recovery method > Alternative treatment method (holistic)
HJ Treatment or recovery method > Recreation therapy (bibliotherapy, music, dance, drama, play, art, sport, exercise)
HJ Treatment or recovery method > Treatment outcome
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Treatment and maintenance > Treatment factors
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Type of care > Mental health care (Psychiatry / Psychology)
VA Geographic area > International
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