Effects of aerobic exercise combined resistance training on plasma oxytocin, arginine vasopressin and anxiety in male opioids-dependent addicts / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe the changes of plasma oxytocin (OT), arginine vasopressin (AVP) and anxiety after exercise intervention in male opioids-dependent patients.Methods:Forty-five male opioids addicts who met the inclusion criteria and voluntarily participated in exercise rehabilitation were enrolled.According to stratified random sampling, all subjects were divided into exercise group ( n=22) and control group( n=23). Exercise group attended aerobic exercise combined with resistance training intervention, 5 times per week for 8 weeks.Aerobic exercise was mainly treadmill and elliptical, while resistance training was based on strength and endurance training.Subjects completed self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and Chinese perceived stress perception scale (CPSS) before and after intervention, as well as physical fitness tests. Besides, plasma OT and AVP levels were detected.Independent sample t-test, paired sample t-test, and Chi-square test were conducted by using SPSS 20.0 software. Results:Before the intervention, there were no significant differences between the two groups in demography, drug history, SAS, CPSS, plasma OT and AVP(all P>0.05). The overall anxiety detection rate was 66.67%, the scores of SAS and CPSS were both higher than the Chinese norm, and the difference was significant(both P<0.01) . After the intervention, the levels of plasma AVP, the scores of SAS and CPSS in the exercise group (AVP(19.57±2.23)pg/ml, SAS(50.17±10.09), CPSS(36.59±6.36)) were significantly lower than those in the control group (AVP(22.53±2.56)pg/ml, SAS(57.12±12.00), CPSS(43.09±5.57), all P<0.05), and plasma OT((61.98±5.27) pg/ml) was significantly higher than that in the control group ((54.64±7.62) pg/ml)( P<0.01). Compared with baseline, maximal oxygen uptake(VO 2max), 1 min push-ups and sitting body flexion increased significantly in the exercise group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Opioids drug addicts were prone to excessive stress and anxiety and other negative emotions in the process of drug withdrawal. Eight-week aerobic combined with resistance exercise changed the plasma OT and AVP levels of opioids addicts, effectively alleviated the perceived stress, improved the anxiety state and their health related fitness level.