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Exercise in Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD): A Feasibility Study

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Treatment Resistant Depression
Interventions
Other: Moderate Intensity Aerobic Exercise
Other: Wait-list
Registration Number
NCT01383811
Lead Sponsor
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Brief Summary

The objective of this study is to determine the effects of adjunct exercise in treatment resistant depression. The central hypothesis for the research is that adjunct exercise with usual care in Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD) will have significant effects in improving the psychiatric symptoms in comparison to usual care alone.

Detailed Description

Participants with treatment resistant depression will be recruited to participate in a 12-week clinical trial on the effects of adjunct moderate-intensity exercise versus usual care. Primary outcome measure will be reduction in baseline scores on Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (17 item). Secondary outcome measure will include reduction in baseline scores of clinical global impression severity, pittsburgh sleep quality index global score, scores on beck depression inventory, and improvement in actigraphic sleep.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
21
Inclusion Criteria
  • Being sedentary (exercising less than 3 times/week for > 20 minutes at moderate/vigorous intensity for each bout)
  • Ability to come for supervised exercises up to 5 days/week.
  • On stable doses of medication or psychotherapy (within last 1 month) for underlying depression and willingness to continue on stable dose or therapy schedule during active phase of study participation, with the exception of during acute exacerbation of symptoms of psychiatric illness.
  • Being able to read, understand, and provide written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
  • DSM-IV TR Axis I diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or schizophrenia spectrum disorder, or substance or alcohol abuse/dependence disorder (except nicotine dependence) in the past 12 months. Patients with current primary anxiety disorder will also be excluded.
  • Behavioral or personality disturbances, which may significantly interfere with study participation.
  • Evidence of acute suicidal risk.
  • Medical contraindication for physical exercise (significant orthopedic or cardiopulmonary disorder) that would prevent regular aerobic exercise. The American College of Sports Medicine criteria for risk stratification will be used and where indicated medical clearance for exercise will be obtained through the subject's primary care physician.
  • Pregnancy.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Moderate Intensity Aerobic ExerciseModerate Intensity Aerobic Exercise-
Moderate Intensity Aerobic ExerciseWait-list-
Wait List/Usual CareWait-listThe subjects in this group will continue to receive the usual treatment that they were on at the time of enrollment through the wait list period of 12 weeks. Subsequently they will receive the 12 weeks of aerobic exercise program intervention
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from baseline on Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-17 item (HRSD17)scoreBaseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks

Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-17 item (HRSD17, a well standardized measure of depression will be the primary measures of efficacy.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Reduction in baseline scores of clinical global impression severityBaseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks
Change from baseline on Beck Depression Inventory-II scoreBaseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks

This is a widely used reliable and standardized measure of depression.

Change from baseline on Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) global sleep quality scorebaseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks.

PSQI is a widely used, reliable and standardized measure of subjecitve sleep

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Penn State Hershey Medical Center

🇺🇸

Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States

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