Key result
A 4-week physical exercise program significantly reduced depressive symptoms compared to relaxation exercises in older inpatients with MDD, though no quantitative effect sizes were reported.
Why the study?
Does a physical exercise program reduce depressive symptoms in older inpatients with Major Depressive Disorder?
RCT (n=12)
Does a physical exercise program reduce depressive symptoms in older inpatients with Major Depressive Disorder?
A four-week physical exercise program may be a feasible adjunct therapy for reducing depressive symptoms in older inpatients with Major Depressive Disorder, though larger studies are needed.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May support exercise as adjunct for depressive symptoms in older MDD inpatients; leaves open confirmation in larger trials.
Twelve older inpatients (M age = 66.8) with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) participated in this controlled pilot trial either in a physical exercise group (PEG; n = 6; aerobic, strength, and coordination exercises) or an active control group (ACG; n = 6; relaxation exercises) twice a week for four weeks. While depressive symptoms decreased in both groups, reduction of symptoms was significantly larger in the PEG. However, the PEG had higher BDI scores compared to the ACG at pretest. Neurocognitive functioning and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentration did not change significantly. A four-week exercise program may be a feasible adjunct therapy in older MDD patients but the efficacy of the program needs to be proven with larger samples.
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Heißel et al. (2015) conducted an RCT in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) (n=12). Physical exercise program (aerobic, strength, and coordination) vs. Active control group (relaxation exercises) was evaluated on Depressive symptoms. A 4-week physical exercise program significantly reduced depressive symptoms compared to relaxation exercises in older inpatients with MDD, though no quantitative effect sizes were reported.
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