What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Other. Population: moderate to severe major depression (n=12). Intervention: Aerobic exercise (treadmill walking). Primary outcome: Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score (p=0.002).

April 1, 2001Open Access

Benefits from aerobic exercise in patients with major depression: a pilot study

Key Result

A 10-day aerobic exercise program significantly reduced Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores from 19.5 to 13 (p=0.002) in patients with moderate to severe major depression.

PICO

Population

moderate to severe major depression (n=12)

Intervention / Comparator

Aerobic exercise (treadmill walking) (30 minutes a day)

Primary Outcome

Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score, p=0.002

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 13% vs 19.5%

p-value: p=0.002

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Several reports indicate that physical activity can reduce the severity of symptoms in depressed patients. Some data suggest that even a single exercise bout may result in a substantial mood improvement. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short term effects of a training programme on patients with moderate to severe major depression. METHODS: Twelve patients (mean (SD) age 49 (10) years; five men, seven women) with a major depressive episode according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Society of Psychiatry (DSM IV) criteria participated. The mean (SD) duration of the depressive episode was 35 (21) weeks (range 12--96). Training consisted of walking on a treadmill following an interval training pattern and was carried out for 30 minutes a day for 10 days. RESULTS: At the end of the training programme, there was a clinically relevant and statistically significant reduction in depression scores (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression: before, 19.5 (3.3); after, 13 (5.5); p = 0.002. Self assessed intensity of symptoms: before, 23.2 (7); after, 17.7 (8.1); p = 0.006. Values are mean (SD)). Subjective and objective changes in depression scores correlated strongly (r = 0.66, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic exercise can produce substantial improvement in mood in patients with major depressive disorders in a short time.

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Cite This Study

Dimeo et al. (Sun,) conducted a other in moderate to severe major depression (n=12). Aerobic exercise (treadmill walking) was evaluated on Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score (p=0.002). A 10-day aerobic exercise program significantly reduced Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores from 19.5 to 13 (p=0.002) in patients with moderate to severe major depression.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a0eaef637aeb0126447a210 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.35.2.114

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