title: Exercise training and music therapy in elderly with depressive syndrome: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies have thrown doubt on the true effectiveness of anti-depressants in light and moderate depression. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of physical training and music therapy on a sample group of subjects affected by light to moderate depression versus subjects treated with pharmacological therapy only.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled study. Patients were randomized into two groups. Subjects in the pharmacotherapy group received a therapy with antidepressant drugs; the exercise/music therapy group was assigned to receive physical exercise training combined with listening to music. The effects of interventions were assessed by differences in changes in mood state between the two groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medically eligible patients were screened with the Hamilton Anxiety Scale and with the Geriatric Depression Scale. We used plasmatic cytokine dosage as a stress marker.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We recruited 24 subjects (mean age: 75.5 ± 7.4, 11 M/13 F). In the pharmacotherapy group there was a significant improvement in anxiety only (p<0.05) at 6-months. In the exercise/music therapy was a reduction in anxiety and in depression at 3-months and at 6-months (p<0.05). We noted an average reduction of the level of TNF-a from 57.67 (± 39.37) pg/ml to 35.80 (± 26.18) pg/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our training may potentially play a role in the treatment of subjects with mild to moderate depression. Further research should be carried out to obtain more evidence on effects of physical training and music therapy in depressed subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrological, and Geriatric Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: walter.verrusio@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Verrusio
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrological, and Geriatric Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andreozzi
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, Campus Bio-medico of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marigliano
authors.affiliation: Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, "Sapienza" - University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Renzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrological, and Geriatric Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gianturco
authors.affiliation: "Science of Aging" Interdepartmental Research Center - Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Pecci
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrological, and Geriatric Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ettorre
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrological, and Geriatric Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cacciafesta
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrological, and Geriatric Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gueli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents
keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Elderly; Exercise; Music therapy; Rehabilitation