The Latest Evidence on the Effects of Physical Activity on Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety and Psychological Distress
Physical activity should be a mainstay approach in managing depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. There has been a significant gap in comprehensive tools designed to meet the growing demands placed on primary care providers - until QHSLab.
Anxiety and depression are at an all-time high among adults, and the numbers often published are underreported. In addition, new U.S. Preventive Service Task Force recommendations indicate that all adults under 65 should be screened for anxiety at their next doctor's appointment. Unfortunately, primary care physicians are overworked and continue to shoulder the burden of screening, treating, and monitoring their patients' mental health, chronic diseases, and lifestyle conditions. It can feel like an impossible task.
More and more research continues to emerge about the correlation between physical activity (PA) and the severity of anxiety and depression symptoms. A recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine conducted a study to "synthesize the evidence on the effects of physical activity on symptoms of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in adult populations.” It concluded that "Physical activity is highly beneficial for improving symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress across a wide range of adult populations, including the general population, people with diagnosed mental health disorders, and people with chronic disease. Physical activity should be a mainstay approach in managing depression, anxiety, and psychological distress."
There has been a significant gap in comprehensive tools designed to meet the growing demands placed on primary care providers - until QHSLab. QHSLab has created the Q-Scale and adapted the PHQ-GAD16 into a single instrument to save precious clinical time, these two self-report assessments that physicians can use to screen and identify patients with risks associated with depression, anxiety, psychological distress and health behaviors impacting quality of life.
A patient's lifestyle is critical to their mental and physical health. QHSLab has tools to identify health behavior risks such as sedentary lifestyles. The findings in the BMJ study also showed that "All physical activity modes were beneficial, including aerobic, resistance, mixed-mode exercise, and yoga for example. It is likely that the beneficial effects of PA on depression and anxiety are due to a combination of various psychological, neurophysiological, and social mechanisms."
Health is more than just your symptomology - it's the balance of your physical, mental, and social health. With that in mind, many patients need help figuring out where to improve each area. This is a vital component many platforms fail to provide and is one of the most critical services offered by QHSLab. QHSLab has point-of-care and non-face-to-face educational resources such as "SmartMoves" and "Beating the Worry Bug," designed to help patients understand the benefits of human movement, become worry resistant and the importance of physical activity for overall health. These resources are available in convenient mediums, like podcasts and clinically vetted articles.
Reimburses through commercial insurance and Medicare range between $30-65 per patient encounter. Every patient is screenable. Click here to learn exactly how.
The Q-Scale and PHQ-GAD16 are highly reliable, validated, and easy-to-use assessments that busy primary care physicians can quickly and efficiently administer. In addition, QHSLab's tools to identify health behavior risks such as sedentary lifestyles provide physicians with more informed clinical decision-making abilities and better patient care.
Schedule a meeting with a team member to learn how your practice and patients can benefit from implementing this evidence-based reimbursable digital medicine program.