Gregory L. Stonerock

Exercise as Treatment for Anxiety: Systematic Review and Analysis

BackgroundExercise has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety, but few studies have studied exercise in individuals preselected because of their high anxiety.PurposeThe objective of this study is to review and critically evaluate studies of exercise training in adults with either high levels of anxiety or an anxiety disorder.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in which anxious adults were randomized to an exercise or nonexercise control condition. Data were extracted concerning anxiety outcomes and study design. Existing meta-analyses were also reviewed.ResultsEvidence from 12 RCTs suggested benefits of exercise, for select groups, similar to established treatments and greater than placebo. However, most studies had significant methodological limitations, including small sample sizes, concurrent therapies, and inadequate assessment of adherence and fitness levels.ConclusionsExercise may be a useful treatment for anxiety, but lack of data from rigorous, methodologically sound RCTs precludes any definitive conclusions about its effectiveness.

Development and psychometric properties of the Pulmonary-specific Quality-of-Life Scale in lung transplant patients.

BACKGROUND The Pulmonary-specific Quality-of-Life Scale (PQLS) was developed to measure quality of life (QoL) among patients awaiting lung transplant. The objective of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the PQLS, identify empirically derived sub-scales, and examine ability to detect changes in pulmonary-specific QoL scores after lung transplantation. METHODS Data were derived from the INSPIRE trial, a dual-site randomized controlled trial of coping skills training in 389 lung transplant candidates (obstructive [48.3%], restrictive [24.2%], cystic fibrosis [13.6%], and other [13.9%]). Cronbach alpha was calculated to assess the internal reliability of the PQLS (n = 388). Test-retest reliability was assessed with correlation coefficients between baseline and 12-week post-baseline scores for the usual care control condition (n = 140). Convergent validity was assessed with correlation coefficients between the PQLS and established measures of QoL and emotional distress, 6-minute walk test distance, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and use of supplemental oxygen at rest (n = 388). Change from baseline to 6 months post-transplantation was assessed with repeated measures analysis of variance (n = 133). RESULTS The PQLS was internally reliable and stable across 12 weeks. The PQLS correlated strongly with QoL measures (e.g., Shortness of Breath Questionnaire, r = 0.78, p < 0.0001), moderately with mood and anxiety (e.g., Beck Depression Inventory-II, r = 0.59, p < 0.0001), and modestly with lung disease severity (e.g., 6-minute walk test, r = -0.41, p < 0.0001). PQLS scores improved by nearly 2 SDs after transplant. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrated the reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change of the PQLS for measuring pulmonary QoL among patients with advanced lung disease and the responsiveness of the PQLS to changes in QoL after lung transplantation.

Depression, social support, and clinical outcomes following lung transplantation: a single-center cohort study

Depressive symptoms are common among lung transplant candidates and have been associated with poorer clinical outcomes in some studies. Previous studies have been plagued by methodologic problems, including small sample sizes, few clinical events, and uncontrolled confounders, particularly perioperative complications. In addition, few studies have examined social support as a potential protective factor. We therefore examined the association between pretransplant depressive symptoms, social support, and mortality in a large sample of lung transplant recipients. As a secondary aim, we also examined the associations between psychosocial factors, perioperative outcomes [indexed by hospital length of stay (LOS)], and mortality. We hypothesized that depression would be associated with longer LOS and that the association between depression, social support, and mortality would be moderated by LOS. Participants included lung transplant recipients, transplanted at Duke University Medical Center from January 2009 to December 2014. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI‐II) and social support using the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS). Medical risk factors included forced vital capacity (FVC), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), donor age, acute rejection, and transplant type. Functional status was assessed using six‐minute walk distance (6MWD). We also controlled for demographic factors, including age, gender, and native disease. Transplant hospitalization LOS was examined as a marker of perioperative clinical outcomes. Participants included 273 lung recipients (174 restrictive, 67 obstructive, 26 cystic fibrosis, and six “other”). Pretransplant depressive symptoms were common, with 56 participants (21%) exhibiting clinically elevated levels (BDI‐II ≥ 14). Greater depressive symptoms were associated with longer LOS [adjusted b = 0.20 (2 days per 7‐point higher BDI‐II score), P < 0.01]. LOS moderated the associations between depressive symptoms (P = 0.019), social support (P < 0.001), and mortality, such that greater depressive symptoms and lower social support were associated with greater mortality only among individuals with longer LOS. For individuals with LOS ≥ 1 month, clinically elevated depressive symptoms (BDI‐II ≥ 14) were associated with a threefold increased risk of mortality (HR = 2.97). Greater pretransplant depressive symptoms and lower social support may be associated with greater mortality among a subset of individuals with worse perioperative outcomes.