Exercise-based and mind-body movement interventions for depressive symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Why clinicians should know about it

• Picked for Gastroenterology (top studies of the week, 16 August 2026): Exercise interventions reduce depression in IBD
• Picked for Pharmacology (medical) (top studies of the week, 16 August 2026): Exercise and mind‑body interventions for IBD depression

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Depressive symptoms are common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and may adversely affect quality of life, treatment adherence, and disease management. Exercise-based and mind-body movement interventions have been proposed as safe and accessible non-pharmacological strategies for improving mental health. However, their effects on depressive symptoms in patients with IBD remain insufficiently synthesized. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in Embase, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science from inception to May 15 2026. Randomized controlled trials evaluating exercise-based or mind-body movement interventions for depressive symptoms in patients with IBD were included. Two reviewers independently conducted study screening, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using Review Manager software. Subgroup analyses were performed according to delivery format, intervention modality, intervention duration, and disease type. RESULTS: A total of 677 records were identified, and 7 articles comprising 9 intervention comparisons were included in the meta-analysis. Baseline depressive symptom scores were comparable between intervention and control groups (SMD , 0.02, 95% CI: -0.38 to 0.42). Compared with control conditions, exercise-based and mind-body movement interventions significantly reduced depressive symptoms in patients with IBD (SMD , -0.49, 95% CI: -0.68 to -0.30, P < 0.00001), with no observed heterogeneity (I² , 0%). Subgroup analyses showed beneficial effects across delivery formats, intervention modalities, intervention durations, and disease types. However, tests for subgroup differences were not statistically significant, and these findings should therefore be interpreted as exploratory trends rather than evidence of superiority of any specific subgroup. CONCLUSION: Exercise-based and mind-body movement interventions may reduce depressive symptoms in patients with IBD. The overall effect was consistent across the included studies, but current evidence remains limited by the small number of trials and methodological constraints. Further well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to clarify the optimal exercise modality, dose, and delivery format for this population.

Abstract as published, via PubMed.