Key result
This study protocol describes an exploratory randomized trial to evaluate whether adapted physical activity combined with cognitive exercises improves emotion regulation in patients with depression.
Why the study?
While adapted physical activity improves depressive symptoms, little is known about its effects on emotion regulation in patients with depression shortly after hospital discharge.
RCT
Open-label
randomized
BACKGROUND: Individuals with depression experience difficulties in emotion regulation that are closely associated with cognitive deficits. Research indicates that they tend to employ maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, which are strongly linked to cognitive biases such as self-blame, rumination and catastrophizing. Numerous studies have demonstrated the positive impact of adapted physical activity (APA) on depressive symptoms. However, little is known about the effects of APA on emotion regulation. The aim of the current study REAPAD was to examine the effects of two adapted physical activity programs on the cognitive strategies of emotion regulation of patients with depression shortly after their discharge from the hospital.METHODS: REAPAD is an exploratory, randomized, open study comparing an APA program versus APA combined simultaneously with cognitive and emotional exercises. Both programs consist of eight 45-minute individual sessions constructed of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, with the same category and balanced duration of physical activity. The primary endpoint is to measure the programs’ effects on emotion regulation strategies at 3 time points: pre-, post- and post-program. The secondary endpoints were the measurement of cognitive flexibility and depressive symptoms.RESULTS: We expect the combined APA program to more effectively promote emotional regulation strategies than the APA program, leading to improved cognitive flexibility and a reduction in depressive symptoms.CONCLUSIONS: This study will determine whether physical activity enhances the personal energy of individuals with depression following hospital discharge by improving emotion regulation.
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Longuechaud et al. (2026) conducted an RCT in Major depressive disorders. Adapted physical activity (APA) combined with cognitive and emotional exercises vs. Adapted physical activity (APA) program alone was evaluated on Emotion regulation strategies at 3 time points: pre-, post- and post-program. This study protocol describes an exploratory randomized trial to evaluate whether adapted physical activity combined with cognitive exercises improves emotion regulation in patients with depression.
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