The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #61077

Evan Atlantis, BSc¹, Chin-Moi Chow, MSc PhD¹, Adrienne Kirby, MSc², and Maria Fiatarone Singh, MD, FRACP¹. (1) School of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Sydney, Faculty of Health Sciences, Cumberland Campus, East street, PO Box 170 Lidcombe, Sydney, NSW 1825, Australia, 61 40 77 32 36, E.Atlantis@fhs.usyd.edu.au, (2) NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Locked Bag 77, Camperdown, Sydney, Australia

Introduction: In Australia (1996), mental disorders accounted for nearly 30% of all non-fatal disease burden, of which depression (8%) was the leading cause. This study investigates the effectiveness of a 24-week exercise plus behavior modification intervention on improving mental health and quality of life (QOL) outcomes.

Method: Star City casino employees (~4000) were invited to participate, resulting in 73 (female=37, male=36) volunteers. Psychological, QOL and sleep quality data was collected at week 0, 8, 16 and 24 using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS), SF-36 Health Status Survey and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) respectively. Subjects were randomized into either Group A (treatment 24-weeks), or Group B (wait-list control). The treatment arm included high intensity aerobic (³3 sessions/week >75% HRmax, ³20 minutes) and resistance training, plus behavior modification strategies.

Results: Mean (SD) compliance index (Group A) was 0.9 (±0.2). 48% of the sample had baseline Mental Health scores below U.S. norms (mean 74.74, ±18.05); and Depression, Stress and PSQI were abnormal 16%, 23% and 59% respectively. Univariate analysis of covariance found 24-week between group means in Mental Health (p=0.005), Vitality (p<0.001), General Health (p=0.009), Bodily Pain (p=0.005), Physical Functioning (p=0.004), Stress (p=0.036), Depression (p=0.048) and PSQI (p=0.048) significantly improved for Group A.

Discussion: This study demonstrates the efficacy of an exercise-based intervention for improving mental health, QOL and sleep quality, without targeting any specific causal factors. Future research should contrast the long-term efficacy of this intervention within clinically depressed populations of varied severity, as compared to “standard care”.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Discuss the potential of the SF-36 Mental Health scale for measuring treatment effects in mental health interventions.
• 2. Identify the efficacy of exercise for improving mental health, QOL and sleep quality, independent of causal factors present in these disorders.
• 3. Discuss how these findings and future research-aims to demonstrate the utility of exercise as an adjunctive or alternative treatment to counter the increasing burden of mental health disorders.

Keywords: Exercise, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.