title: Changes in depression status in low socioeconomic perinatal subjects in rural India after supervised physical exercise: A randomized controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Perinatal depression is a major public health problem, affecting up to a quarter of all pregnant women in rural Asean countries and often leads to psychologic symptoms, lower quality of life, and higher health care costs. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of supervised physical exercise on depression level of perinatal subjects.
  60 subjects who fulfill the selection criteria were randomly assigned to exercise (Group-1, n=30) and control group (Group-2, n=30). Participants completed general screening form and Physical health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) before their intervention and again 4 weeks and 8 weeks later. Group-1 underwent aerobic training with 60-65% maximum heart rate and Group-2 was prescribed with handouts for 4 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was use to analyze group differences over time while controlling for baseline differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Demographic and the baseline values show homogenous population (P>0.05). Patients in both groups experienced significant reduction in depression level. Group A showed reduction of 91.70% (P=0.00) as compared to Group B 69.01% (P=0.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that supervised physical exercise provides better improvement in depression status in perinatal subjects than providing handouts alone.
authors.affiliation: College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz University, Al-Kharj, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Gopal Nambi Subash Chandra
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Bose
keywords: Depression; Physical Health Questionnaire-9; perinatal; physical exercise
references.citation: Lancet. 2004 Jan 24;363(9405):303-10
references.pmid: 14751705
references.citation: Am J Prev Med. 2005 Jan;28(1):1-8
references.pmid: 15626549
references.citation: J Affect Disord. 2006 Jul;93(1-3):79-85
references.pmid: 16545873
references.citation: J Affect Disord. 2007 Jun;100(1-3):115-21
references.pmid: 17098291