Key result
Eight weeks of high-intensity interval training and sprint interval training similarly improved depressive symptoms in healthy women, with no significant difference between groups (p=0.548), but neither protocol improved anxiety levels.
Why the study?
Information on the chronic effects of interval training protocols on mood disorders was lacking compared to moderate-intensity continuous training.
Does high-intensity interval training or sprint interval training improve depressive and anxious symptoms in healthy women?
RCT (n=36)
Single-blind (outcome assessor)
Randomly allocated
No
Does high-intensity interval training or sprint interval training improve depressive and anxious symptoms in healthy women?
Absolute Event Rate: 10.5% vs 10.1%
p-value: p=0.548
Both high-intensity interval training and sprint interval training are effective at improving depressive symptoms, but not anxiety, in healthy, physically active women.
HIIT and SIT reduce depressive symptoms in healthy women; confirms comparable efficacy and extends exercise-mood evidence.
Background: Despite important advances in the relationship between exercise and mood disorders, especially regarding moderate intensity continuous training, there is a lack of information about the chronic effects of interval training protocols. We compared the effects of two different interval training protocols (sprint interval training [SIT] and high intensity interval training [HIIT]) on depressive and anxious symptoms in healthy women. Methods: Thirty-six women were randomly allocated to a HIIT (n=18) or SIT (n=18) groups and performed 24 training sessions over eight weeks (thrice a week). Levels of state-trait anxiety and depressive symptoms were evaluated using State–Trait Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory, respectively, before and after training intervention. Results: Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) did not reveal significant effect of time (p>0.05), group intervention (p>0.05) or time x group interaction (p>0.05) on state-trait anxiety; however, two-way ANOVA showed a significant effect of time on depressive symptoms (p=0.025) but not group effect (p=0.548) or time x group interaction (p=0.373). Depressive symptoms of the participants in both HIIT and SIT group reduced from baseline (ΔHIIT) -17.5±27.9% and (ΔSIT) -28.6±47.5%, respectively. Conclusion: HIIT and SIT groups similarly improved depressive symptoms but not anxiety levels in healthy and physically active young adult women.
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Viana et al. (2019) conducted an RCT in Depressive and anxious symptoms (n=36). High-intensity interval training (HIIT) vs. Sprint interval training (SIT) was evaluated on Depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory score) (p=0.548). Eight weeks of high-intensity interval training and sprint interval training similarly improved depressive symptoms in healthy women, with no significant difference between groups (p=0.548), but neither protocol improved anxiety levels.
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