title: Effects of exercise on depressive symptoms in older adults with poorly responsive depressive disorder: randomised controlled trial.
abstract: 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.
authors: Section of Ageing and Health, Department of Medicine, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK.
authors: Anne S
authors: AS
authors: Mather
authors: Cesar
authors: C
authors: Rodriguez
authors: Moyra F
authors: MF
authors: Guthrie
authors: Anne M
authors: AM
authors: McHarg
authors: Ian C
authors: IC
authors: Reid
authors: Marion E T
authors: ME
authors: McMurdo
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents