December 15, 2006Open Access
Treatment of minor depression in older adults: A pilot study comparing sertraline and exercise
Key Result
Exercise and sertraline showed trends for superiority over usual care in improving mental health and depression scores, with exercise additionally improving physical functioning.
Study Design
Type
RCT (n=37)
Randomization
randomized
Structured PICO
Does an exercise program or sertraline improve emotional and physical functioning in older adults with minor depression compared to usual care?
P
Population
37 older adults with minor depression
I
Intervention
Exercise program or sertraline
C
Comparator
Usual care
O
Outcome
Measures of both emotional (clinician and self-report) and physical (observed and self-report) functioningpatient reported
Both sertraline and exercise show promise as treatments for late-life minor depression, with exercise offering the added benefit of improving physical functioning.
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to conduct a pilot clinical trial to test the feasibility and efficacy of an exercise program and anti-depressant treatment compared with usual care in improving the emotional and physical functioning of older adults with minor depression. Participants were 37 older adults with minor depression who were randomized to exercise, sertraline, or usual care; 32 participants completed the 16-week study. Outcomes included measures of both emotional (clinician and self-report) and physical (observed and self-report) functioning. There were trends for the superiority of the exercise and sertraline conditions over usual care in improving SF-36 mental health scores and clinician-rated depression scores. Individuals in the exercise condition showed greater improvements in physical functioning than individuals in the usual care condition. Both sertraline and exercise show promise as treatments for late-life minor depression. However, exercise has the added benefit of improving physical functioning as well.
Cite This Study
Brenes et al. (Fri,) conducted a rct in minor depression (n=37). Exercise or sertraline vs. Usual care was evaluated on Emotional and physical functioning. Exercise and sertraline showed trends for superiority over usual care in improving mental health and depression scores, with exercise additionally improving physical functioning.