Characteristics of included studies
| Study | Participants | Interventions | Outcome scales (usable date only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broocks et al8 | Diagnosis: panic disorder±agoraphobia according to DSM-III-R or ICD-10 Age: 18–50 years (y), participant number (N): 46, setting: outpatients, duration: 10 weeks | Group 1: exercise (structured running) Group 2: clomipramine Group 3: placebo pill Clomipramine dose: 37.5–112.5 mg/day | Hamilton anxiety rating scale score,28 Clinical Global Impression score—observer rating,29 Panic and Agoraphobia scale score—observer rating,30 Panic and Agoraphobia scale score- patient rating,30 Beck Anxiety Inventory score,31 Fear Questionnaire Score,32 Montgomery- Asberg Depression Rating Score,33 Beck Depression Inventory score,34 Clinical Global Impression score—patient rating29 |
| Wedekind et al27 | Diagnostic criteria: panic disorder±agoraphobia (DSM-IV and ICD-10) Age: 31.9±8.1 years (average), N: 75 setting: outpatients, duration: 10 weeks | Group 1: exercise (aerobic)+paroxetine Group 2: relaxation+paroxetine Group 3: exercise (aerobic)+placebo Group 4: relaxation+placebo Paroxetine dose: 40 mg/day | Panic and Agoraphobia Scale30 Clinical Global Impression Scale29 |
| Esquivela et al23 | Diagnosis: panic disorder±agoraphobia (DSM-IV), Age:29.6 years (mean), N: 18 setting: outpatients, duration: one intervention session | Group 1: moderate or hard exercise Group 2: very-light exercise | Panic Symptom List—DSM-IV,35 Visual Analogue Anxiety Scale36 |
| Sexton et al26 | Diagnosis: anxiety diagnosis (DSM-III), age (mean): walkers: 39.2 years; joggers: 36.4 years, N:53, setting: inpatients, duration: 8 weeks (participants followed up until 6 months) | Group 1: walking exercise (light exercise) Group 2: jogging exercise (strenuous exercise) | Symptom Checklist 90R,37 State-Trait Anxiety Inventory,38 Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale,39 Global Assessment Scale40 |
| Lambert et al24 | Diagnosis: panic disorder±agoraphobia (DSM-IV), Age: 18–65 years, N: 170, Setting: outpatients, duration: 16 weeks (participants followed up until 10 months) | Group 1: occupational therapy+exercise+life style changes Group 2: standard general practitioner care | Beck anxiety inventory,31 Panic attack frequency, severity and symptomatology,41 Beck Depression Inventory II,42 Fear Questionnaire,43 Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire,44 EuroQuol Heath Questionnaire45 |
| Martinsen et al6 | Diagnosis: panic disorder, agoraphobia without panic attacks, social phobia, generalised anxiety disorder (DSM-III-R), mean age: aerobic—39.1 years; anaerobic—38.8 years, N: 79/setting, inpatients, duration: 8 weeks | Group 1: aerobic exercise Group 2: non-aerobic exercise | Comprehensive psycho-pathological Rating Scale;46 Phobic Avoidance Rating Scale;47 Agoraphobic Cognitions Scale48 |
| Merom et al19 | Diagnosis: panic disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, social phobia (DSM-IV), mean age: 38.7 years (intervention), control group: 39.4 years, N:74, setting: outpatients, duration: 8 weeks (participants followed up until 10 weeks) | Group 1: exercise (walking)+group CBT Group 2: educational sessions+group CBT | Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 2149 |
| Oeland et al, 201025 | Diagnosis: panic disorder, generalised anxiety disorder (ICD-10), median age: exercise group 36 years control group 40 years, N: 48, setting: outpatients, duration: 20 weeks (followed up until 32 weeks) | Group 1: group exercise programme (aerobic training and non-aerobic weight lifting) Group 2: no exercise | Quality of life using EuroQol 5D scale50 |