IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i18p11622-d915511.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Climbing as an Add-On Treatment Option for Patients with Severe Anxiety Disorders and PTSD: Feasibility Analysis and First Results of a Randomized Controlled Longitudinal Clinical Pilot Trial

Author

Listed:
  • Carina S. Bichler

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Fuerstenweg 185, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Martin Niedermeier

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Fuerstenweg 185, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Katharina Hüfner

    (Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, University Hospital of Psychiatry II, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Mátyás Gálffy

    (Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, University Hospital of Psychiatry II, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Johanna M. Gostner

    (Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Philipp Nelles

    (Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, University Hospital of Psychiatry II, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Stefanie E. Schöttl

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Fuerstenweg 185, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Barbara Sperner-Unterweger

    (Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, University Hospital of Psychiatry II, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Martin Kopp

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Fuerstenweg 185, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

Abstract

Background: Exercise has considerable effects on physical and psychological health. Anxiolytic effects of climbing exercise have been found in people suffering from depression. However, there are no studies on patients with severe anxiety disorders or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) practicing climbing as add-on treatment. Additionally, many studies on physical therapy fail to use adequate active control groups. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the feasibility of a four-week climbing exercise program for patients with anxiety disorders or PTSD in comparison to a standard exercise treatment and a social control group. Methods: Outpatients diagnosed with anxiety disorders or PTSD (F 40, F 41, F 43.1 according to ICD-10) were randomly assigned to (a) climbing exercise (n = 27), (b) Nordic walking exercise (n = 23), or (c) control condition (n = 23) providing the same amount of social contact for eight sessions of 90 minutes each. Psychological parameters (symptom severity, worry symptoms, self-efficacy, quality of life) and biological parameters were assessed at the beginning and at the end of the four-week program. Additionally, follow-up assessments were conducted three and six months after the program ended. Results: Sixty outpatients (75% female) aged 18–65 years with a longstanding history of a mental disorder (>10 years) and classified as treatment-resistant (95%) and with averaging 3.8 psychiatric comorbidities completed the pilot trial. After participation, symptoms of anxiety disorders were significantly reduced ( p = 0.003), and health-related characteristics significantly improved (depression symptoms: p < 0.001, worry symptoms: p < 0.001, self-efficacy: p < 0.001, quality of life-physical health: p = 0.002, quality of life-psychological health: p = 0.006) in all groups. The feasibility of conducting climbing exercises for the patient groups could be demonstrated, and a general acceptance in the groups was recorded. No significant time-by-group interactions were found. At the completion of the program, psychological parameters improved, while biological parameters remained the same in all three groups. Conclusions: Participation in the climbing group as well as in Nordic walking and social contact groups demonstrated beneficial results in patients with anxiety disorders and PTSD with severe mental burden. Nevertheless, climbing did not show any additional clinically relevant benefits compared to Nordic walking or social contact. Studies with larger sample sizes and qualitative insights are needed to further evaluate the possible benefits of climbing in this population.

Suggested Citation

  • Carina S. Bichler & Martin Niedermeier & Katharina Hüfner & Mátyás Gálffy & Johanna M. Gostner & Philipp Nelles & Stefanie E. Schöttl & Barbara Sperner-Unterweger & Martin Kopp, 2022. "Climbing as an Add-On Treatment Option for Patients with Severe Anxiety Disorders and PTSD: Feasibility Analysis and First Results of a Randomized Controlled Longitudinal Clinical Pilot Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-18, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:18:p:11622-:d:915511
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/18/11622/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/18/11622/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. The Whoqol Group, 1998. "The World Health Organization quality of life assessment (WHOQOL): Development and general psychometric properties," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 46(12), pages 1569-1585, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Christian U Krägeloh & D Rex Billington & Patricia Hsien-Chuan Hsu & Xuan Joanna Feng & Oleg N Medvedev & Paula Kersten & Jason Landon & Richard J Siegert, 2016. "Ordinal-To-Interval Scale Conversion Tables and National Items for the New Zealand Version of the WHOQOL-BREF," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(11), pages 1-15, November.
    2. Chia-Huei Wu, 2008. "The Role of Perceived Discrepancy in Satisfaction Evaluation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 88(3), pages 423-436, September.
    3. Erik Carlquist & Pål Ulleberg & Antonella Delle Fave & Hilde E. Nafstad & Rolv M. Blakar, 2017. "Everyday Understandings of Happiness, Good Life, and Satisfaction: Three Different Facets of Well-being," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 12(2), pages 481-505, June.
    4. Clemens Tesch-Römer & Andreas Motel-Klingebiel & Martin Tomasik, 2008. "Gender Differences in Subjective Well-Being: Comparing Societies with Respect to Gender Equality," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 85(2), pages 329-349, January.
    5. Felix N. Fernando & Dennis R. Cooley, 2016. "An Oil Boom’s Effect on Quality of Life (QoL): Lessons from Western North Dakota," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 11(4), pages 1083-1115, December.
    6. Eunkyo Kang & Ye Eun Rhee & Soojeong Kim & Jihye Lee & Young Ho Yun, 2021. "Quality of Life and Depression in the General Korean Population: Normative Data and Associations of the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) and the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQOL) wit," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(4), pages 1673-1687, August.
    7. Szymon Szemik & Maksymilian Gajda & Aleksandra Gładyś & Małgorzata Kowalska, 2022. "The Association between COVID-19 Pandemic and the Quality of Life of Medical Students in Silesian Voivodeship, Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, September.
    8. Zhonghua Gou & Xiaohuan Xie & Yi Lu & Maryam Khoshbakht, 2018. "Quality of Life (QoL) Survey in Hong Kong: Understanding the Importance of Housing Environment and Needs of Residents from Different Housing Sectors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-16, January.
    9. Menyfah Q. Alanazi & Waleed Abdelgawwad & Thamer A. Almangour & Fatma Mostafa & Mona Almuheed, 2023. "Impact of COVID-19 on the Health-Related Quality of Life of Patients during Infection and after Recovery in Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-14, March.
    10. Chia-Huei Wu, 2009. "Enhancing quality of life by shifting importance perception among life domains," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 37-47, March.
    11. Emily Williams & Natisha Sands & Stephen Elsom & Roshani Kanchana Prematunga, 2015. "Mental health consumers' perceptions of quality of life and mental health care," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(3), pages 299-306, September.
    12. Graeme Hawthorne & Helen Herrman & Barbara Murphy, 2006. "Interpreting the WHOQOL-Brèf: Preliminary Population Norms and Effect Sizes," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 77(1), pages 37-59, May.
    13. Leslie Gillespie‐Marthaler & Katherine Nelson & Hiba Baroud & Mark Abkowitz, 2019. "Selecting Indicators for Assessing Community Sustainable Resilience," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 39(11), pages 2479-2498, November.
    14. Arne Roets & Barry Schwartz & Yanjun Guan, 2012. "The tyranny of choice: a cross-cultural investigation of maximizing-satisfising effects on well-being," Judgment and Decision Making, Society for Judgment and Decision Making, vol. 7(6), pages 689-704, November.
    15. Zhan, Weihai & Smith, Susan R. & Warner, Lynette C. & North, Fred & Wilhelm, Sara & Nowak, Amanda, 2019. "Quality of life among children and adolescents in foster family homes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    16. Kun-Hu Chen & Grace Yao, 2010. "Investigating Adolescent Health-Related Quality of Life: From a Self-Identity Perspective," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 96(3), pages 403-415, May.
    17. Wen-Ching Chen & Jung-Der Wang & Jing-Shiang Hwang & Chiao-Chicy Chen & Chia-Huei Wu & Grace Yao, 2009. "Can the Web-Form WHOQOL-BREF be an Alternative to the Paper-Form?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 94(1), pages 97-114, October.
    18. Maria Nazarete Costa Catré & Joaquim Armando Ferreira & Maria Costa Catré & Marco Pereira, 2021. "Development and Application of a Short-Form Questionnaire for Assessing Spiritual, Religious and Personal Beliefs Related to Quality of Life (WHOQOL-SRPB-BREF) in Portugal," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(1), pages 241-258, February.
    19. Kevin Cheng & David Phillips & Oi-Ling Siu & Anthony Yeh, 2014. "Patterns of Residential Adjustment for Older Person: Who will Recover and How Do They Recover? A Study in Different Residential Environments in Hong Kong," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 119(1), pages 295-319, October.
    20. Hong Zou & Qianqian Xiong & Hongwei Xu, 2020. "Does Subjective Social Status Predict Self-Rated Health in Chinese Adults and Why?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 152(2), pages 443-471, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:18:p:11622-:d:915511. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.