Effects of health Qigong exercise on depression and anxiety in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Objective: This study explored the effects of Health Qigong exercise on depression and anxiety in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods: A total of 42 volunteers who met the inclusion criteria were recruited and randomly allocated into the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group carried out 60-minute sessions of Health Qigong exercise five times a week for 12 weeks while the control group did not perform any regular physical exercise. Data on cognitive impairment, psychomotor retardation, somatic anxiety, weight loss and sleep disorders, the sum score of the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17), state anxiety, trait anxiety as well as the sum score of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were collected for three repeated measurements (baseline, 6, and 12 weeks). Results: Significant differences were observed in depression, state anxiety, trait anxiety, cognitive impairment and psychomotor retardation in the experimental group but no difference in somatic anxiety, weight loss and sleep disorders. Conclusion: Health Qigong exercise can pose positive psychological effects and alleviate the depression and anxiety in patients with Parkinson’s disease. It can be applied as an accessible supplement to the existent drug treatment for PD.