TY - JOUR
T1 - The Effect of Tai Chi on Psychosocial Well-being
T2 - A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
AU - Wang, Wei Chun
AU - Zhang, Anthony Lin
AU - Rasmussen, Bodil
AU - Lin, Li Wei
AU - Dunning, Trisha
AU - Kang, Seung Wan
AU - Park, Byung Joo
AU - Lo, Sing Kai
PY - 2009/9/1
Y1 - 2009/9/1
N2 - Objective: This systematic review aimed to critically appraise published clinical trials designed to assess the effect of Tai Chi on psychosocial well-being. Data Sources: Databases searched included MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, HEALT, PsycINFO, CISCOM, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials of the Cochrane Library, and dissertations and conference proceedings from inception to August 2008. Review Methods: Methodological quality was assessed using a modified Jadad scale. A total of 15 studies met the inclusion criteria (i.e. English publications of randomized controlled trials with Tai Chi as an intervention and psychological well-being as an outcome measure), of which eight were high quality trials. The psychosocial outcomes measured included anxiety (eight studies), depression (eight studies), mood (four studies), stress (two studies), general mental health three studies), anger, positive and negative effect, self-esteem, life satisfaction, social interaction and self-rated health (one study each). Results: Tai Chi intervention was found to have a significant effect in 13 studies, especially in the management of depression and anxiety. Although the results seemed to suggest Tai Chi is effective, they should be interpreted cautiously as the quality of the trials varied substantially. Furthermore, significant findings were shown in only six high quality studies. Moreover, significant between group differences after Tai Chi intervention was demonstrated in only one high quality study (the other three significant results were observed in non-high quality studies). Two high quality studies in fact found no significant Tai Chi effects. Conclusion: It is still premature to make any conclusive remarks on the effect of Tai Chi on psychosocial well-being.
AB - Objective: This systematic review aimed to critically appraise published clinical trials designed to assess the effect of Tai Chi on psychosocial well-being. Data Sources: Databases searched included MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, HEALT, PsycINFO, CISCOM, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials of the Cochrane Library, and dissertations and conference proceedings from inception to August 2008. Review Methods: Methodological quality was assessed using a modified Jadad scale. A total of 15 studies met the inclusion criteria (i.e. English publications of randomized controlled trials with Tai Chi as an intervention and psychological well-being as an outcome measure), of which eight were high quality trials. The psychosocial outcomes measured included anxiety (eight studies), depression (eight studies), mood (four studies), stress (two studies), general mental health three studies), anger, positive and negative effect, self-esteem, life satisfaction, social interaction and self-rated health (one study each). Results: Tai Chi intervention was found to have a significant effect in 13 studies, especially in the management of depression and anxiety. Although the results seemed to suggest Tai Chi is effective, they should be interpreted cautiously as the quality of the trials varied substantially. Furthermore, significant findings were shown in only six high quality studies. Moreover, significant between group differences after Tai Chi intervention was demonstrated in only one high quality study (the other three significant results were observed in non-high quality studies). Two high quality studies in fact found no significant Tai Chi effects. Conclusion: It is still premature to make any conclusive remarks on the effect of Tai Chi on psychosocial well-being.
KW - critical appraisal
KW - mental health
KW - oriental medicine
KW - therapy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=69949087496&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S2005-2901(09)60052-2
DO - 10.1016/S2005-2901(09)60052-2
M3 - Review Article
C2 - 20633489
AN - SCOPUS:69949087496
SN - 2005-2901
VL - 2
SP - 171
EP - 181
JO - JAMS Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies
JF - JAMS Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies
IS - 3
ER -
