The effect of Qigong exercise on state anxiety levels of inpatients in psychiatric wards: A randomized controlled study.
Elcin Babaoglu, Aydan Akkurt Yalcinturk, Emel Erdeniz Gures, Asli Zeynep Sipahi, Selma Dogan
Explore (New York, N.Y.) January 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2024.103064 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA single 40-minute session of Qigong, a mind-body exercise originating in China, reduced state anxiety levels in psychiatric inpatients. In a randomized controlled trial with 70 inpatients (35 per group), the intervention group's mean post-test state anxiety score (27.20) was significantly lower than the control group's (39.72). Within the intervention group, scores dropped from 38.42 before the session to 27.20 afterward. The authors suggest Qigong may help manage state anxiety and reduce associated risks in clinical psychiatric settings.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 70 |
| Population | Psychiatric inpatients |
| Intervention | Qigong exercise |
| Dose | single 40-minute session |
| Topics | Anxiety |
| Keywords | Psychiatric inpatients Psychiatric nursing Qigong, state anxiety |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key finding | A single 40-minute Qigong exercise session significantly reduced state anxiety levels in psychiatric inpatients compared to a control group. |
Abstract
Qigong is a mind-body exercise that originated in China and is often described as a form of meditation or movement therapy. While the existing literature has investigated the impact of Qigong exercises on trait anxiety in outpatients, there is limited research on their influence on state anxiety in inpatients. This study examined the effect of Qigong exercise on state anxiety levels of inpatients in psychiatric wards. This study was a single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Patients were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. Seventy inpatients participated in the study, with 35 in each group. In the intervention group, the STAI-I form was used to assess state anxiety levels before (Test 1) and after (Test 2) a single 40-minute session of Qigong. The mean post-test scores of the intervention group (27.20±5.57) were significantly lower than those of the control group (39.72±10.84). Additionally, a statistically significant difference was observed between the mean test-1 (38.42±9.7) and test-2 scores (27.2 ± 5.57) within the intervention group. A single 40-minute Qigong exercise session reduced state anxiety levels in psychiatric inpatients and reduced the risk of potential adverse outcomes associated with state anxiety. Practitioners may consider the use of Qigong exercise in the management of state anxiety in clinical practice, when making clinical decisions.