A randomized controlled trial on an aerobic exercise programme for depression outpatients

Objectives

There were limitations in the conventional treatments for depression. This study investigated if an aerobic exercise programme would be a beneficial adjunct for outpatients on treatment for depression in Hong Kong.

Methods

We performed a single blind randomized controlled trial on 34 adult patients (between 18 and 65) suffering from major depressive disorder. Their Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) scores were at least 14. They were randomly assigned to receive a 12-week aerobic exercise programme in addition to usual psychiatric care (intervention), or to continue with usual psychiatric care alone (control). The outcomes included depression severity, sleep quality, somatic symptoms distress level, and anxiety level.

Results

Seventeen participants were randomly allocated to each group. There was statistically significant reduction in the mean HAM-D scores in both intervention (18.5–9.8) and control (19.5–14.5) groups. There were statistically significant main effects for time, for group, and for time*group interaction. On the sleep quality measures, there was statistically significant improvement in the global Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index in the intervention group only (from 12.0 to 9.0).

Conclusion

This study provided suggestive evidence that aerobic exercise might be a beneficial adjunct treatment for depression.