Effect of Tai Chi exercise on the physical and mental health of the elder patients suffered from anxiety disorder.

OBJECTIVE Observe the effect of Tai Chi exercise on the rehabilitation of elder patients suffered from the anxiety disorder. METHODS 32 elder patients suffered from the anxiety disorder are randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group and each of them consists of 16 patients. The control group only receives the drug therapy, while the experimental group is treated with Tai Chi exercise in addition to the drug therapy. When they are chosen and 45 days after treatment, they are respectively evaluated by Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and Generic Quality of Life Inventory-74 (GQOLI-74). The cured patients stop the drug therapy, but the cured patients in the experimental group continue to do Tai Chi exercise after stopping the drug therapy. After tracing and investigating each cured patient for 2 months, test and evaluate whether their disease reoccurs within the 2 months. RESULTS After 45 days' treatment, it is found that HAMA and GQOLI-74 scores of the patients in the experimental group are improved significantly in comparison with those in the time of their selection and those in the control group (P<0.05); upon tracing and investigation of the cured patients, it is found that the recurrence rate is 42.86% in the control group, while that of the experimental group is only 9.09%. CONCLUSION After the elder patients suffered from the anxiety disorder are treated with Tai Chi exercise in addition to the drug therapy, their effect is more significant than those who only are treated by the drug. Meanwhile, if the patients are only treated by the drug, their disease is easy to reoccur after curing. However, if they insist on Tai Chi exercise, the recurrence rate is low and the effect is significant.