Effects of exercise on depressive symptoms in older adults with poorly responsive depressive disorder: randomised controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Depression is common in later life.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether exercise is effective as an adjunct to antidepressant therapy in reducing depressive symptoms in older people.


METHODS
Patients were randomised to attend either exercise classes or health education talks for 10 weeks. Assessments were made "blind" at baseline, and at 10 and 34 weeks. The primary outcome was seen with the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). Secondary outcomes were seen with the Geriatric Depression Scale, Clinical Global Impression and Patient Global Impression.


RESULTS
At 10 weeks a significantly higher proportion of the exercise group (55% v. 33%) experienced a greater than 30% decline in depression according to HRSD (OR=2.51, P=0.05, 95% CI 1.00-6.38).


CONCLUSIONS
Because exercise was associated with a modest improvement in depressive symptoms at 10 weeks, older people with poorly responsive depressive disorder should be encouraged to attend group exercise activities.
Mather
Anne S
AS
Section of Ageing and Health, Department of Medicine, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK.
Rodriguez
Cesar
C
Guthrie
Moyra F
MF
McHarg
Anne M
AM
Reid
Ian C
IC
McMurdo
Marion E T
ME
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents