Is improved fitness following a 12-week exercise program associated with decreased symptom severity, better wellbeing, and fewer sleep complaints in patients with major depressive disorders? A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

Publication date: Available online 15 March 2019Source: Journal of Psychiatric ResearchAuthor(s): Markus Gerber, Alice Minghetti, Johannes Beck, Lukas Zahner, Lars DonathAbstractMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most burdensome disorders worldwide. While exercise training in patients with MDD contributes to clinically relevant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, whether and to what degree changes in cardiorespiratory fitness impact depressive symptom severity has not yet been addressed systematically in prior research. The purpose of our study was threefold. Firstly, to examine whether baseline levels and improvements in objectively assessed VO2max and subjectively perceived fitness predicted endpoint levels and change in depressive symptoms, wellbeing and sleep. Secondly, to determine whether exercise modality (sprint interval training [SIT]) versus continuous aerobic exercise training [CAT]) predicted depressive symptoms, wellbeing and sleep. Thirdly, whether the affective responses during and following exercise predicted depressive symptoms, wellbeing and sleep. All measurements were taken in a sample of inpatients diagnosed with MDD. The sample consisted of 53 participants (41 women and 12 men, Mage = 36.3 years, SD = 11.3) with unipolar depression who were randomly assigned to SIT and CAT. Data were assessed at baseline and after four weeks of exercise training (including three weekly 35 min sessions). Multiple linear regression analyses show...
Source: Journal of Psychiatric Research - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research