Web-based exercise interventions for patients with depressive and anxiety disorders: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Lara Carneiro, Simon Rosenbaum, Philip B. Ward, Filipe M. Clemente, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo, Renato S. Monteiro-Júnior, Alexandre Martins, José Afonso
2021 Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria  
The number of people suffering from depression and/or anxiety has increased steadily due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this context, web-based exercise interventions have emerged as a potential treatment strategy. The objective of this study was to synthetize evidence from randomized controlled trials regarding the effects of web-based exercise interventions on patients with depressive and/or anxiety disorders. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and
more » ... nalyses guidelines were followed. Six databases were searched (Cochrane Library, EBSCO, PubMed, SciELO, Scopus, and Web of Science), and eligible articles were identified according to a PICOS inclusion-exclusion approach (participants with depressive or anxiety disorders; web-based exercise interventions; active or passive control group; assessment of changes in depressive or anxiety disorders; randomized design). Primary outcomes were depressive and/or anxiety symptoms. The quality of evidence was assessed with Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. Of 7,846 search results, three studies met the inclusion criteria (172 participants between 18 and 65 years of age, 95.9% women). The web-based exercise interventions lasted 8-12 weeks and involved endurance training, yoga, or combined endurance and strength training. The comparators involved non-exercise controls or active controls. Compliance rates were low. Web-based exercise interventions were not superior to controls regarding anxiety symptoms, and only one study found benefits for depressive symptoms (p ≤ 0.05). The quality of the cumulative evidence was low. The available data regarding the effects of web-based exercise interventions on depression and/or anxiety symptoms is scarce, the risk of bias is high, and the quality of the cumulative results is low. Currently, no clear recommendations can be provided. PROSPERO CRD42021225938.
doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2021-2026 pmid:34852034 pmcid:PMC9169482 fatcat:7vbersqhxzcannhbtpwcar2ybu