Aerobic exercise did not significantly reduce depressive symptoms compared to stretching exercise in patients with major depression (mean difference on HAM-D17 -0.78, p=0.52).
RCT (n=115)
Observer-blinded
Centralized, computerized sequence with alternating block sizes
No
Does aerobic exercise improve depressive symptoms compared to stretching exercise in outpatients with major depression?
A three-month aerobic exercise program did not significantly reduce depressive symptoms compared to stretching exercise in patients with major depression, though it improved VO2 max and some metabolic markers.
Effect estimate: Mean difference -0.78 (95% CI -3.2 to 1.6)
Absolute Event Rate: 11.3% vs 10.5%
p-value: p=0.52
BACKGROUND: The effect of referring patients from a clinical setting to a pragmatic exercise intervention for depressive symptoms, cognitive function, and metabolic variables has yet to be determined. METHODS: Outpatients with major depression (DSM-IV) were allocated to supervised aerobic or stretching exercise groups during a three months period. The primary outcome was the Hamilton depression score (HAM-D(17)). Secondary outcomes were cognitive function, cardiovascular risk markers, and employment related outcomes. RESULTS: 56 participants were allocated to the aerobic exercise intervention versus 59 participants to the stretching exercise group. Post intervention the mean difference between groups was -0.78 points on the HAM-D(17) (95% CI -3.2 to 1.6; P = .52). At follow-up, the participants in the aerobic exercise group had higher maximal oxygen uptake (mean difference 4.4 l/kg/min; 95% CI 1.7 to 7.0; P = .001) and visuospatial memory on Rey's Complex Figure Test (mean difference 3.2 points; 95% CI 0.9 to 5.5; P = .007) and lower blood glucose levels (mean difference 0.2 mmol/l; 95% CI 0.0 to 0.5; P = .04) and waist circumference (mean difference 2.2 cm; 95% CI 0.3 to 4.1; P = .02) compared with the stretching exercise group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this trial does not support any antidepressant effect of referring patients with major depression to a three months aerobic exercise program. Due to lower recruitment than anticipated, the trial was terminated prior to reaching the pre-defined sample size of 212 participants; therefore the results should be interpreted in that context. However, the DEMO-II trial does suggest that an exercise program for patients with depression offer positive short-term effects on maximal oxygen uptake, visuospatial memory, fasting glucose levels, and waist circumference. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00695552.
Krogh et al. (Wed,) conducted a rct in Major depression (n=115). Aerobic exercise vs. Stretching exercise was evaluated on HAM-D17 score post-intervention (Mean difference -0.78, 95% CI -3.2 to 1.6, p=0.52). Aerobic exercise did not significantly reduce depressive symptoms compared to stretching exercise in patients with major depression (mean difference on HAM-D17 -0.78, p=0.52).