Leisure-time physical activity and psychotropic medication: A prospective cohort study

Background

Physical inactivity is a major public health problem associated with an increased risk of mental health problems. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of leisure-time physical activity with subsequent psychotropic medication among middle-aged people employed at baseline.

Methods

Questionnaire survey data collected in 2000–02 among 40–60-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki (N = 8960) were linked with register data on prescribed psychotropic medication (74% gave permission to linkage). The mean follow-up time was 4.2 years. The analysis included 5961 respondents (78% women). The participants were classified into four groups according to physical activity recommendations. Cox regression analysis was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) for the first psychotropic medication purchase.

Results

Leisure-time physical activity was associated with decreased risk of any psychotropic medication. After adjusting for prior psychotropic medication conditioning exercisers (HR = 0.65, 95% CI, 0.53–0.80), the vigorously active (HR = 0.83, 95% CI, 0.71–0.98) and the moderately active (HR = 0.85, 95% CI, 0.74–0.97) all showed a reduced risk of medication compared with the inactive. The associations were similar for the two main groups of psychotropic medication: antidepressants as well as sedatives and sleep medication.

Conclusions

Leisure-time physical activity is potentially important for preventing mental health problems among the middle-aged.