Effectiveness of hygienic-dietary recommendations as enhancers of antidepressant treatment in patients with depression: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
In recent years some studies have been published supporting the efficacy of light exposure, physical activity, sleep control and a Mediterranean diet pattern on the improvement or prevention of depression. However, to our knowledge, there have been no studies using all these measures together as an adjuvant antidepressant strategy.


METHODS
Multicenter, randomized, controlled, two arm-parallel, clinical trial. Eighty depressed patients undergoing standard antidepressant treatment will be advised to follow four additional hygienic-dietary recommendations about exercise, diet, sunlight exposure and sleep. Outcome measures will be assessed before and after the 6 month intervention period.


CONCLUSIONS
We expect the patients in the active recommendations group to experience a greater improvement in their depressive symptoms. If so, this would be a great support for doctors who might systematically recommend these simple and costless measures, especially in primary care.


BACKGROUND
ISRCTN59506583.
Garcia-Toro
Mauro
M
Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS), Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), Red de Investigación en Actividades Preventivas y Promoción de la Salud (redIAPP), Spain. mauro.garcia@uib.es
Ibarra
Olga
O
Gili
Margalida
M
Salva
Joan
J
Monzón
Saray
S
Vives
Margalida
M
Serrano
Maria J
MJ
Garcia-Campayo
Javier
J
Roca
Miquel
M
D000328:Adult; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012107:Research Design; D012890:Sleep; D013472:Sunlight