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Habitual physical activity and the risk for depressive and anxiety disorders among older men and women

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 September 2010

Julie A. Pasco ,
Lana J. Williams ,
Felice N. Jacka ,
Margaret J. Henry ,
Carolyn E. Coulson ,
Sharon L. Brennan ,
Eva Leslie ,
Geoffrey C. Nicholson ,
Mark A. Kotowicz  and
Michael Berk
Julie A. Pasco*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Barwon Health, The University of Melbourne, Geelong, Australia
Lana J. Williams
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Barwon Health, The University of Melbourne, Geelong, Australia
Felice N. Jacka
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Barwon Health, The University of Melbourne, Geelong, Australia
Margaret J. Henry
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Barwon Health, The University of Melbourne, Geelong, Australia
Carolyn E. Coulson
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Barwon Health, The University of Melbourne, Geelong, Australia
Sharon L. Brennan
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Barwon Health, The University of Melbourne, Geelong, Australia
Eva Leslie
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
Geoffrey C. Nicholson
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Barwon Health, The University of Melbourne, Geelong, Australia
Mark A. Kotowicz
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Barwon Health, The University of Melbourne, Geelong, Australia
Michael Berk
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Barwon Health, The University of Melbourne, Geelong, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Associate Professor Julie A. Pasco, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences: Barwon Health, The University of Melbourne, PO Box 281, Geelong 3220, Australia. Phone: +61 3 5226 7393; Fax: +61 3 5246 5165. Email: juliep@barwonhealth.org.au.
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Abstract

Background: Regular physical activity is generally associated with psychological well-being, although there are relatively few prospective studies in older adults. We investigated habitual physical activity as a risk factor for de novo depressive and anxiety disorders in older men and women from the general population.

Methods: In this nested case-control study, subjects aged 60 years or more were identified from randomly selected cohorts being followed prospectively in the Geelong Osteoporosis Study. Cases were individuals with incident depressive or anxiety disorders, diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR (SCID-I/NP); controls had no history of these disorders. Habitual physical activity, measured using a validated questionnaire, and other exposures were documented at baseline, approximately four years prior to psychiatric interviews. Those with depressive or anxiety disorders that pre-dated baseline were excluded.

Results: Of 547 eligible subjects, 14 developed de novo depressive or anxiety disorders and were classified as cases; 533 controls remained free of disease. Physical activity was protective against the likelihood of depressive and anxiety disorders; OR = 0.55 (95% CI 0.32–0.94), p = 0.03; each standard deviation increase in the transformed physical activity score was associated with an approximate halving in the likelihood of developing depressive or anxiety disorders. Leisure-time physical activity contributed substantially to the overall physical activity score. Age, gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, weight and socioeconomic status did not substantially confound the association.

Conclusion: This study provides evidence consistent with the notion that higher levels of habitual physical activity are protective against the subsequent risk of development of de novo depressive and anxiety disorders.

Keywords

anxietydepressionepidemiologyphysical activityrisk factors
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 23 , Issue 2 , March 2011 , pp. 292 - 298
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2010

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