Study Associates Vigorous Exercise With Vulnerability To Mental Illness.

MedWire (8/24, Cowen) reports, “Contrary to expectations, engagement in vigorous exercise is positively associated with the incidence and prevalence of psychiatric disorders, particularly bipolar II disorder and alcohol dependence,” according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. After examining “data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC)” on some 23,505 adults, researchers “found that individuals who engaged in vigorous physical exercise were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, less likely to achieve remission, and more likely to relapse than nonexercisers.” (Editors note: This does not mean that vigorous exercise causes mental illness.)

Related Links:

— “Vigorous exercise associated with mental illness vulnerability, “Mark Cowen, MedWire News, August 24, 2012.

Posted in In The News.