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The impact of a multidimensional exercise program on self-reported anxiety and depression in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: A phase II study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2006

JULIE MIDTGAARD ,
MIKAEL RØRTH ,
REINHARD STELTER ,
ANDERS TVETERÅS ,
CHRISTINA ANDERSEN ,
MORTEN QUIST ,
TOM MØLLER  and
LIS ADAMSEN
JULIE MIDTGAARD
Affiliation:
The University Hospitals Centre for Nursing and Care Research (UCSF), Copenhagen University Hospital, Department 7331, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark
MIKAEL RØRTH
Affiliation:
Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Department 5073, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark
REINHARD STELTER
Affiliation:
University of Copenhagen, Institute of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Nørre Allé 51, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
ANDERS TVETERÅS
Affiliation:
The University Hospitals Centre for Nursing and Care Research (UCSF), Copenhagen University Hospital, Department 7331, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark
CHRISTINA ANDERSEN
Affiliation:
Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Department 5073, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark
MORTEN QUIST
Affiliation:
The University Hospitals Centre for Nursing and Care Research (UCSF), Copenhagen University Hospital, Department 7331, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark
TOM MØLLER
Affiliation:
Department of Hematology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Department 4042, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark
LIS ADAMSEN
Affiliation:
The University Hospitals Centre for Nursing and Care Research (UCSF), Copenhagen University Hospital, Department 7331, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark
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Abstract

Little is known about the role of exercise in improving cancer patients' mood while undergoing chemotherapy. In this phase II study changes in self-reported anxiety and depression and fitness (VO2max) are reported in relation to a 6-week, 9 h weekly, multidimensional exercise program. A total of 91 patients receiving chemotherapy, between 18 and 65 years old, completed a Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Questionnaire (HADS; response rate 91%, adherence rate 78%). Anxiety (p < 0.001) and depression (p = 0.042) was significantly reduced. The mean ± SD of the change was −1.14 ± 2.91 for anxiety and −0.44 ± 2.77 for depression. Improvements in fitness were correlated with improvements in depression, χ2(1) = 3.966, p = 0.046, but not with improvements in anxiety, χ2(1) = 0.540, p = 0.462. The research suggests that exercise intervention may have a beneficial impact on psychological distress for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy with low to moderate levels of baseline psychomorbidity. The study furthermore indicates that changes in distress may be associated with disease status and levels of physical activity undertaken during disease. The study is followed up by an ongoing randomized clinical controlled trial to evaluate potential causal effects of exercise intervention on psychological distress and fitness in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Keywords

CancerChemotherapyMultidimensional exercise programAnxietyDepression
Type
Research Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 3 , Issue 3 , September 2005 , pp. 197 - 208
Copyright
© 2005 Cambridge University Press

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