Impact of different exercise interventions on anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients

Abstract

Introduction. The aim of the study was to examine the impact of different exercise interventions on anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients through 1-year outpatient rehabilitation. Methods. overall, 138 breast cancer patients were assessed for eligibility. After excluding 14 women, 124 patients were randomly allocated to water exercise interventions (group A, n = 50), Pilates exercise interventions (group B, n = 44), and yoga exercise interventions (group C, n = 30). Finally, 115 patients completed relevant interventions and were analysed. The participants reported anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and depression Scale at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of the interventions. Results. After 12 months, a decrease in anxiety and depression was observed by 5.64 (p < 0.001) and 4.09 (p < 0.001) points in group A, by 5.75 (p < 0.001) and 4.60 (p < 0.001) points in group B, and by 4.07 (p < 0.001) and 3.14 (p < 0.001) points in group C, respectively. Group A showed significantly better results than group C in anxiety (by 1.54 points; p < 0.01) and depression (by 1.40 points; p < 0.05). Group B obtained significantly better results than group C in anxiety (by 1.61 points; p < 0.01) and depression (by 1.81 points; p < 0.01). Conclusions. Practising a water exercise program resulted in a better decrease of anxiety and depression levels compared with Pilates and yoga interventions.

How do Body Practices Affect the Psychological Aspects of Survivors Women Undergoing Treatment for Breast Cancer? Systematic Literature Review

“…A total of 3,135 women were included, 1,148 in the intervention groups and 1,717 in the control groups. Women considered survivors were included because they had already completed the prescribed cancer treatment and were disease-free 29,33,40,[44][45][46]48 , after diagnosis of breast cancer 42 , before radiotherapy cycle 43 , during radiotherapy 38,47 , undergoing chemotherapy 32,35,39,41,49 , in hormone therapy 30 , undergoing surgery and scheduled to receive radiotherapy 31 , during radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or mastectomy treatment 36 , before mastectomy 37 , and two studies did not present the duration of the treatment during the interventions 28,34 .…”

“…The participants were in stages 0 to III 31,38,40,43,46,48 , from I to III 28,[32][33][34]39,41,[44][45][46] , I to IV 35 , I and II 36 , and four studies did not provide this information 29,30,37,42 .…”

“…The age of the participants varied according to the inclusion criteria: over 18 years old 31,32,[41][42][43]47 , over 20 years old 38 , over 21 years old 40 , 18 to 65 years 35,46 , 18 to 75 years 33 , 19 to 65 years 39 , 20 to 60 years 37 , 20 to 65 years 34 , 25 to 80 years 44 , 40 to 75 years 48 , 41 to 76 years 49 , 42 to 83 years 29 , 52 to 77 years 30 ; three studies presented only the average age of the participants that ranged from 53 to 59 years old 28,36,45 .…”

“…The impact factor of journals ranged from 0.020 32 and 44.544 29,44 , two articles were published in journals without impact factor 36,37 . Of the twenty-two articles found, nineteen were cited in the Web of Science, with 5 citations 39,42 to 141 44 checked out on November 10, 2021.…”

The relationship between depression, anxiety, and pain catastrophising in cancer patients

“…Indeed, pain, fatigue, and emotional distress are the three most commonly co-occurring symptoms in patients with cancer [6]. Therefore, it is important to address anxiety and depression because they can create certain difficulties in performing daily activities and also significantly impair the patients' quality of life [7]. Compared to pain-free cancer patients, cancer patients with pain had significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, and anger [3].…”