Exercise therapy for patients with psychiatric disorders: Research and clinical implications

There is now considerable evidence that regular exercise is (a) a viable, cost-effective, but underused treatment for mild to moderate depression that compares favorably to individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, and cognitive therapy, and (b) a necessary ingredient in effective behavioral treatments that reduce self-reported pain in individuals with chronic pain. Preliminary evidence also suggests that regular exercise deserves further attention as (a) a singular treatment for some anxiety disorders, for individuals suffering from body image disturbance, and for the reduction of problem behavior of developmentally disabled persons, and (b) an adjunct in treatment programs for schizophrenia, conversion disorder, and alcohol dependence.