Mental health problems have been concerning issues that need considerable attention from healthcare providers. Patients with mental health illnesses such as stress and related disorders need to be taught approaches to reduce the latter. The article by Ramos-Sanchez et al. (2021) evaluates the way exercise impacts anxiety symptoms and those of related disorders such as stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In the introduction part of the article, the authors highlight the prevalence of mental disorders and different treatment methods used to manage the conditions. Ramos-Sanchez et al. (2021) acknowledge that most people suffer from anxiety and related disorders in their lifetime. For instance, approximately 12.9% of individuals are likely to have panic disorder (PD), specific phobias (SP), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Equally, the lifetime prevalence of obsessive-compulsion disorder (OCD) and PTSD is about 3.9%. Psychiatric and pharmacological interventions such as cognitive behavioral disorders and antidepressants are traditional treatments used for the disorders. However, the cost and stigma associated with these treatment approaches result in focusing on alternative interventions such as nutrition, physical activity, and exercise.
The article’s study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of exercise on symptoms of the earlier indicated mental disorders. The inclusion criteria included RTCs that used exercises that focused on enhancing physical fitness, lasting at least three weeks, and involving adults diagnosed with anxiety or a related disorder, such as PTSD or OCD. Databases used to search for the RTCs are PubMed, CINAHL, PSYCArticles, and Embase. A total of 13 RCTs with 731 participants, 376 assigned to exercise, and 355 control groups were used. After regression analysis, findings indicate that exercise reduces symptoms of mental disorders by approximately 47.9%, regardless of age and gender. The findings support the outcome of previous studies showing that exercise can be an efficacious approach to reducing symptoms of anxiety and stress-related disorders. Additionally, these findings demonstrate that exercise is an alternative evidence-based intervention for individuals with various mental disorders.
Applying the Article’s Information to the Nursing Concept Project
The information from the article will be used in designing and implementing stress reduction education among patients with mental health issues. Although stress and other related conditions such as anxiety and depression can affect all individuals, the disorders are common among hospitalized patients, especially those discharged from the intensive care unit. Notably, the hospitalization process is a traumatic experience whether it is for young or elderly patients or males or females. Patients are forced to move from their familiar to unfamiliar environments, impacting them negatively due to limited privacy and loss of sense of individuality and security. As a result, the chances for the patients to develop stress, depression, and anxiety increase significantly. Equally, invasive interventions and the use of advanced technologies in intensive care units trigger various psychological problems among patients. According to Saeidi et al. (2021), approximately 57.8%, 53.6%, and 46.5% of patients discharged from intensive care units have stress, anxiety, and depression, respectively. Educating the patients about different approaches to reduce stress is vital to accelerate their recovery and minimize the chances of re-hospitalization.
Teaching the patients non-pharmacological and non-psychiatric approaches to reducing stress such as physical activities and exercises is an effective way of promoting self-management of such mental disorders. The article provides information about different exercises, duration, and their effectiveness. For instance, the article notes that aerobic exercises and resistance training are helpful techniques for reducing stress. Additionally, the duration of such interventions ranges from three to twenty weeks with 16-90 minutes sessions for at least five days a week. Such information will facilitate the designing of an educational program for the patients that guarantees optimal stress reduction.
Applying The Article’s Information to Future Patient Care and Teaching
I will apply the formation from the article to provide alternative interventions for stress and other related conditions to prevent negative impacts such as high cost and stigma associated with pharmacological and psychiatric treatments. According to Ramos-Sanchez et al. (2021), cognitive behavioral therapy and antidepressants are the first-line treatment methods for most mental disorders. However, most patients cannot afford them and others avoid them because they are expensive. As result, they leave their conditions untreated increasing the possibilities for complications. Thus, guiding hospitalized patients on how to do simple exercises such as moving their limbs regularly for about 15 minutes or more will significantly help them reduce stress related to their conditions and treatments.
Equally, I will be teaching stressed patients how they can do exercises independently to improve their physical and mental health. Undeniably, patients discharged from hospitals are likely to have stress or depression due to their health status or the financial burden caused by their illnesses. Therefore, it is recommendable to teach the patients how they can manage stress through physical exercises without incurring any other cost. I will teach patients aerobic exercises such as treadmill running cycling and walking to promote self-management of stress. Herbert et al. (2020) indicate that exercises significantly reduce stress and related mental disorders. The article will allow me to teach the patients how to the exercises, frequency, and duration to guarantee optimal mental health outcomes.
References
Herbert, C., Meixner, F., Wiebking, C., & Gilg, V. (2020). Regular physical activity, short-term exercise, mental health, and well-being among university students: The results of an online and a laboratory study. Frontiers in Psychology, 11.
Ramos-Sanchez, C., Schuch, F., Seedat, S., Louw, Q., Stubbs, B., Rosenbaum, S., Firth, J., van Winkel, R., & Vancampfort, D. (2021). The anxiolytic effects of exercise for people with anxiety and related disorders: An update of the available meta-analytic evidence. Psychiatry Research, 302, 1-8.
Saeidi, M., Safaei, A., Sadat, Z., Abbasi, P., Sarcheshmeh, M., Dehghani, F. Tahrekhani, M., & Abdi , M. (2021). Prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among patients discharged from critical care units. The Journal of Critical Care Medicine, 7(2), 113-122.