The Effect of Qigong Exercise on State Anxiety Levels of Inpatients in Psychiatric Wards: A Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract Qigong, an ancient Chinese medical practice, is currently utilized as a complementary treatment for anxiety and depression. While existing literature has investigated the impact of Qigong exercises on trait anxiety in outpatients, there is limited research on its influence on state anxiety in inpatients. This study examines the effect of Qigong exercise on the state anxiety levels of inpatients in psychiatric wards. This study is a single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Patients were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. Anxiety levels were assessed using the STAI-I form before (test-1) and after (test-2) a 40-minute Qigong exercise in the intervention group. The control group completed the STAI-I forms without engaging in Qigong exercises. Seventy inpatients participated in the study, with 35 patients in each group. The mean post-test scores of the intervention group (27.20 ± 5.57) were significantly lower than those of the control group (39.72 ± 10.84). Additionally, a statistically significant difference was observed between the mean test-1 (38.42 ± 9.7) and test-2 scores (27.2 ± 5.57) within the intervention group. A daily 40-minute Qigong exercise can effectively reduce anxiety levels in psychiatry inpatients and reduce the risk of potential adverse outcomes associated with aggression and heightened anxiety. Implementing this approach as a patient contribution can improve the quality of care in psychiatric units while reducing the length of hospitalization and the need for polypharmacy.