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Physical activity of people with mental disorders compared to the general population: a systematic review of longitudinal cohort studies

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Abstract

Purpose

We investigated if (a) people with lower physical activity have an increased risk of subsequent mental disorders (compared to those with higher physical activity); and (b) people with mental disorders have reduced subsequent physical activity (compared to those without mental disorders).

Methods

A systematic review of population-based longitudinal studies examining physical activity and mental disorders was conducted. Mental disorders were defined by International Classification of Diseases or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The results were described in a narrative summary.

Results

Twenty-two studies were included. The majority (19) examined mood disorders and physical activity. Only two studies found consistent association between lower physical activity and a reduced risk of subsequent mental disorders. One study found the bidirectional association between physical activity and major depression. Twelve studies found mixed results (i.e., no consistency in direction and significance of the findings), and seven studies found no association between the variables of interest.

Conclusions

There is a lack of consistent evidence linking physical activity to be either a risk factor or consequence of mental disorders.

PROSPERO registration ID

CRD42017071737.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following researchers for providing additional data; Yves Henchoz from Lusanne University Hospital, Sarah Hiles from VU University Medical Center, and Arne Okkenhaug from Levanger Hospital.

Funding

JGS is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Practitioner Fellowship Grant (APP1105807) and employed by The Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research which receives core funding from the Queensland Department of Health.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, QLD, 4076, Australia

    Shuichi Suetani, John J. McGrath & James G. Scott

  2. Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia

    Shuichi Suetani & John J. McGrath

  3. Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Services, Brisbane, Australia

    Shuichi Suetani

  4. Department of Health Service and Population Research, King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK

    Brendon Stubbs

  5. Physiotherapy Department, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

    Brendon Stubbs

  6. National Centre for Register-based Research, The Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark

    John J. McGrath

  7. School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Australia

    James G. Scott

  8. Metro North Mental Health, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, Australia

    James G. Scott

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  1. Shuichi Suetani
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  2. Brendon Stubbs
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  4. James G. Scott
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Contributions

SS, JJM, and JGS planned the study. BS and SS conducted data extraction and methodological quality appraisal. SS and JGS wrote the initial drafts of the manuscript. All authors were involved in later revisions and all authors approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shuichi Suetani.

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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

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Suetani, S., Stubbs, B., McGrath, J.J. et al. Physical activity of people with mental disorders compared to the general population: a systematic review of longitudinal cohort studies. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 54, 1443–1457 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01760-4

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