@article{ref1,
title="Physical exercise through mountain hiking in high-risk suicide patients. A randomized crossover trial",
journal="Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica",
year="2012",
author="Sturm, J. and Plöderl, M. and Fartacek, C. and Kralovec, K. and Neunhäuserer, D. and Niederseer, D. and Hitzl, W. and Niebauer, J. and Schiepek, G. and Fartacek, R.",
volume="126",
number="6",
pages="467-475",
abstract="Objective:  The following crossover pilot study attempts to prove the effects of endurance training through mountain hiking in high-risk suicide patients. Method:  Participants (n = 20) having attempted suicide at least once and clinically diagnosed with hopelessness were randomly distributed among two groups. Group 1 (n = 10) began with a 9-week hiking phase followed by a 9-week control phase. Group 2 (n = 10) worked vice versa. Assessments included the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Scale of Suicide Ideation (BSI), and maximum physical endurance. Results:  Ten participants of Group 1 and seven participants of Group 2 completed the study. A comparison between conditions showed that, in the hiking phase, there was a significant decrease in hopelessness (P < 0.0001, d = -1.4) and depression (P < 0.0001, d = -1.38), and a significant increase in physical endurance (P < 0.0001, d = 1.0), but no significant effect for suicide ideation (P = 0.25, d = -0.29). However, within the hiking phase, there was a significant decrease in suicide ideation (P = 0.005, d = -0.79). Conclusion:  The results suggest that a group experience of regular monitored mountain hiking, organized as an add-on therapy to usual care, is associated with an improvement of hopelessness, depression, and suicide ideation in patients suffering from high-level suicide risk.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0001-690X",
doi="10.1111/j.1600-0447.2012.01860.x",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2012.01860.x"
}