Exercise intervention can reduce the degree of drug dependence of patients with amphetamines/addiction by improving dopamine level and immunity and reducing negative emotions

Qinghua He; Jingqiong Wu; Xin Wang; Fuxuan Luo; Kaihui Yan; Wenjun Yu; Zaimei Mo; Xinping Jiang

Exercise intervention can reduce the degree of drug dependence of patients with amphetamines/addiction by improving dopamine level and immunity and reducing negative emotions

Am J Transl Res. 2021 Mar 15;13(3):1779-1788. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Qinghua He¹, Jingqiong Wu², Xin Wang³, Fuxuan Luo³, Kaihui Yan³, Wenjun Yu¹, Zaimei Mo¹, Xinping Jiang¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Physical Education and Health Science, Guangxi University for Nationalities Nanning 530006, Guangxi, China.
² Department of Physical Education, Guangxi Medical University Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China.
³ The Sixth Compulsory Isolation and Rehabilitation Center of Guangxi Beihai 536000, Guangxi Province, China.

PMID: 33841702
PMCID: PMC8014419

Abstract

Objective: Exercise intervention can reduce drug dependence of patients with amphetamines addiction by improving dopamine level and immunity, and reducing negative emotions.

Methods: Altogether 90 male patients with amphetamines addiction from March 2018 to June 2019 were selected and grouped. The routine rehabilitation group (RG) (30 cases) was given conventional rehabilitation treatment, while group 1 (30 cases) was given conventional rehabilitation treatment+aerobic exercise for 1 hour. Group 2 (30 cases) received routine rehabilitation+aerobic exercise+strength training for 1 hour. Before and after exercise intervention, the three groups were tested for psychological state with self-rating depression scale (SDS). Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the drug craving. Positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) and quality of life scale for drug addiction (QOL-DA) were used to detect the mental status and QOL. The immune function, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and dopamine (DA) levels were detected.

Results: After intervention, the SDS, VAS and PANSS of group 1 and group 2 weresignificantly better than those of RG, while the improvement of scores of group 2 wassignificantly better than that of group 1 (P < 0.05). hs-CRP in group 1 and group 2 were significantly lower than those in RG, while hs-CRP in group 2 weresignificantly lower than those in group 1 (P < 0.05). IgA, IgG and DA in group 1 and group 2 weresignificantly higher than those in RG, and IgA, IgG and DA in group 2 weresignificantly higher than those in group 1 (P < 0.05). QOL-DA in group 1 and 2 weresignificantly higher than those of RG, and the improvement of scores of group 2 wassignificantly better than that of group 1 (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Psychological status, drug craving, immune function, DA and QOL of patients with amphetamines addiction have been improved after exercise intervention.

Keywords: Exercise intervention; body immunity; dopamine; drug dependence; negative emotions; patients with amphetamines addiction.