Objectives

Is physical exercise beneficial or can it have adverse effects for patients with stress-induced exhaustion disorder? Previous studies confirm exercise benefits in various mental disorders but its impact on exhaustion disorder - a clinical condition resulting from chronic psychosocial stress - requires further exploration to enhance intervention strategies.

This study aims to evaluate the immediate effects of acute exercise on mental health variables fatigue, energy, anxiety, stress, perceived exertion, and psychological discomfort, and compare these effects in patients with exhaustion disorder to healthy controls across two exercise intensities.

Methods

To determine the acute exercise effects, we conducted an experimental trial with patients with exhaustion disorder (n = 30) and healthy control participants (n = 30). At two different occasions they performed 22-minute sessions of cycling at either low or moderate intensity. We assessed the mental health variables before, during, and after exercise.

Results

Acute exercise significantly reduced fatigue, anxiety, and stress while increasing energy in patients immediately after exercising, with sustained benefits thirty minutes later except for energy. The patients reported higher levels of exertion and discomfort than controls throughout the exercise. There were intensity effects in energy and exertion, with moderate intensity inducing higher levels.

Conclusions

Short bouts of exercise can have immediate beneficial mental health effects for patients with exhaustion disorder, regardless of intensity. They experience more exertion and discomfort during exercise, suggesting they face more challenges in physical activities. Further research should aim to optimize protocols and manage barriers to enhance the feasibility of long-term exercise interventions.