Exercise, Health and Mental Health: Emerging Relationships

Exercise, Health and Mental Health provides an introduction to this emerging field and a platform for future research and practice. Written by internationally acclaimed exercise, health and medical scientists, it is the first systematic review of the evidence for the potential role of exercise in:

• treating and managing mental health problems including dementia, schizophrenia, drug and alcohol dependence
• coping with chronic clinical conditions including cancer, heart disease and HIV/AIDS
• enhancing well-being in the general population – by improving sleep, assisting in smoking cessation, and as a way of addressing broader social issues such as anti-social behaviour.

Adopting a consistent and accessible format, the research findings for each topic are clearly summarized and critically examined for their implications.

Guy Faulkner is Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Education and Health at the University of Toronto, Canada. Guy’s research interests lie primarily within the field of physical activity and psychological well-being. Recent projects focus on exercise as an adjunctive therapy for schizophrenia, evaluating the Walking for Health Initiative for the Countryside Agency in relation to users of mental health services, conceptualising the body in experiences of mental health, and identifying the barriers to the diffusion of exercise as an adjunct treatment in clinical health services. Future research will continue to explore these themes. Other interests include the promotion of physical activity in community and rehabilitation settings, optimising the delivery to athletes of psychological skills training and qualitative research methodology.

Adrian Taylor is Reader in Exercise and Health Psychology in the Department of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Exeter, UK. His work has focused on three main themes: (1) Psycho-social determinants of sport and exercise behaviour; (2) The effectiveness of physical activity promotion interventions; and (3) Physical activity and psychological well-being. Adrian co-authored the NHS National Quality Assurance Framework for exercise referral schemes (www.doh.gov.uk/exercisereferrals) and with co-authors published the Cochrane review on the effects of exercise on smoking cessation (http://www.cochrane.org/cochrane/revabstr/ab002295.htm).