Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30043270›Full record

ReviewCurrent psychiatry reports2018

Moving to Beat Anxiety: Epidemiology and Therapeutic Issues with Physical Activity for Anxiety.

Aaron Kandola, Davy Vancampfort, Matthew Herring, Amanda Rebar, Mats Hallgren, Joseph Firth, Brendon Stubbs

Open access · hybridAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Current psychiatry reports, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 113 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
113citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
21.4field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

113 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 273 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  3. The Use of Physical Activity in Coping with Test Anxiety Among Students: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025
    Pooled it
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  5. Physical Activity for Anxiety for Autistic People: A Systematic Review.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2025
    Pooled it
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  10. Metabolic Syndrome and Psychological Effects of Exercise in Hemodialysis Patients.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021
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53 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 6 institutions in 5 countries.

Aaron KandolaPhysiotherapy Department, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, UK. aaron.kandola@gmail.com.
Davy VancampfortKU Leuven Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Leuven, Belgium.
Matthew HerringDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
Amanda RebarPhysical Activity Research Group, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia.
Mats HallgrenDepartment of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Joseph FirthNICM Health Research Institute, School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Brendon StubbsPhysiotherapy Department, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, UK.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust · GBCentral Queensland University · AUKarolinska Institutet · SEKU Leuven · BEUniversity of Limerick · IEWestern Sydney University · AU

Funding

Department of Health ICA-CL-2017-03-001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purpose of reviewThe purpose of this paper was to provide a comprehensive narrative review of the relationship between physical activity (PA) and anxiety and the rationale for including it as a treatment option for anxiety disorders. Several gaps in the literature are highlighted alongside recommendations for future research. RECENT

findingsPA in the general population has established efficacy in preventing and managing cardiovascular disease and improving wellbeing. Recent epidemiological data further suggests that people who are more active may be less likely to have anxiety disorders. In addition, evidence from systematic reviews of randomised control trials suggests that exercise training, a subset of PA, can reduce symptoms in anxiety and stress-related disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, agoraphobia and panic disorder. Anxiety disorders are common, burdensome and costly to individuals and wider society. In addition to the profound negative impact on individuals' wellbeing and functioning, they are associated with worsened physical health, including a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases and premature mortality. Although pharmacotherapy and psychological interventions are helpful for many, these treatment approaches are not effective for everyone and are insufficient to address common physical health complications, such as the elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. Given the combined anxiolytic and physical health benefits of increased activity, PA presents a promising additional treatment option for people with anxiety disorders. However, there remain key gaps in the literature regarding the mechanisms underlying the effects of PA, optimal PA protocols, methods of improving adherence and the importance of physical fitness. These must be addressed for PA to be successfully implemented in mental health services.

Indexed as

AnxietyAnxiety DisordersExerciseExercise TherapyHumansMental HealthStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticCardiovascular diseaseDepressionExerciseFitnessMental healthStress

Identifiers

PMID30043270
PMCPMC6061211
OpenAlexW2884190723

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.