Citation

Haussleiter IS, Bolsinger B, Assion HJ, Juckel G. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 2020; 208(12): 982-988.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/NMD.0000000000001240

PMID

32947455

Abstract

Exercise seems to be effective in reducing depression itself, as well as the risk of relapse. This study evaluated whether standardized guided exercise therapy (GET) in comparison with self-organized activity (SOA) is an effective augmentation therapy in depressive adults. A total of 111 inpatients (66.7% women; mean age, 45.05 ± 12.19 years) with major depression were randomly assigned to either GET or SOA. Interventions were performed three times a week, with each session lasting 50 minutes. Both GET and SOA exerted effects even after a short-term application of 6 weeks. GET was superior to SOA in reducing depression symptom severity, as measured by the Hamilton Depression Scale (p = 0.017), specifically improving suicidality (p = 0.028) as well as time (p = 0.003) and severity of diurnal variation (p = 0.027). The findings support the beneficial role of adjuvant GET in patients with major depression as a feasible treatment in a psychiatric short-term inpatient setting.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Antidepressive Agents; Combined Modality Therapy; Depressive Disorder, Major; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Suicidal Ideation; Treatment Outcome