There is growing interest in the use of EMD&T in the assessment and management of a diverse array of psychiatric disorders. Yamashita et al. used CPET to evaluate exercise tolerance of patients with anorexia nervosa and demonstrated the value of prescribing light-intensity aerobic exercise.
Gorgulu et al. studied patients with major depressive disorder. The level of depression was significantly higher in the outpatient low- and moderate physical activity (PA) level subgroups compared to outpatients with high PA. The clinicians concluded that to ameliorate depressive symptoms of MDD outpatients, intervention strategies should promote habitual MVPA and exercise exceeding the duration recommended for general health.
Siqueira et al. found that a 4-week training of aerobic exercise significantly improves functional capacity in patients with MDD and may be associated with antidepressant efficacy. This approach may also decrease the need for higher doses of antidepressants to achieve response.
In a pilot study of patients with chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder, Scioli-Salter et al. found that CRMF is associated with higher plasma neuropeptide-Y levels and increased pregnalone responses to exercise, which in turn relate to pain sensitivity. As the mental health crisis we are currently experiencing in both children and adults continues, novel clinical interventions using the skills of EMD&T physicians will become increasingly useful.