Physical Exercise Interventions for Mental Health

Exercise is well known to be beneficial to physical health; however, increasing research indicates that physical exercise is also beneficial to brain health and may alleviate symptoms of mental disorders. This book, written by international experts, describes and explores the theory and practice of exercise intervention for different mental disorders across the life span. Drawing on evidence from basic neuroscience research, and enriched with findings from the latest clinical trials, the work provides clear descriptions of current practice and highlights ways to translate this knowledge into pragmatic advice for use in daily practice. The chapters cover a broad range of conditions including neurodevelopmental disorders, depression, anxiety, psychosis and late life neurocognitive disorders. This book is for mental health clinicians including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, as well as internists, paediatricians and geriatricians seeking a comprehensive and individualized approach to treatment.

Linda C. W. Lam is Professor and Chairman at the Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). She is the immediate past President of the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists. She is also the past Chief Editor of the East Asian Archives of Psychiatry, and founding President of the Chinese Dementia Research Association in 2009.

Michelle Riba is Professor and Associate Chair for Integrated Medical and Psychiatric Services at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, and the Director of the PsychOncology Program at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. She also serves as Associate Director of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Depression Center. She is past President of the American Psychiatric Association, the American Association of Directors of Psychiatry Residency Training, and the Association of Academic Psychiatry. Dr Riba is currently serving as Secretary for Scientific Publications for the World Psychiatric Association.