Background. Exercise has been suggested to be a viable treatment for depression. This study investigates the effect of supervised aerobic exercise training on depressive symptoms and physical performance among Chinese patients with mild to moderate depression in early in-patient phase.Methods. A randomized repeated measure and assessor-blinded study design was used. Subjects in aerobic exercise group received 30 minutes of aerobic training, five days a week for 3 weeks. Depressive symptoms (MADRS and C-BDI) and domains in physical performance were assessed at baseline and program end.Results. Subjects in aerobic exercise group showed a more significant reduction in depressive scores (MADRS) as compared to control (between-group mean difference = 10.08 ± 9.41;P=0.026) after 3 weeks training. The exercise group also demonstrated a significant improvement in flexibility (between-group mean difference = 4.4 ± 6.13;P=0.02).Limitations. There was lack of longitudinal followup to examine the long-term effect of aerobic exercise on patients with depression.Conclusions. Aerobic exercise in addition to pharmacological intervention can have a synergistic effect in reducing depressive symptoms and increasing flexibility among Chinese population with mild to moderate depression. Early introduction of exercise training in in-patient phase can help to bridge the gap of therapeutic latency of antidepressants during its nonresponse period.
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机译：背景。有人认为运动是治疗抑郁症的可行方法。本研究调查了有氧有监督运动训练对中国轻度至中度抑郁症患者在住院初期的抑郁症状和身体机能的影响。使用随机重复测量和评估者盲研究设计。有氧运动组的受试者每周五天接受30分钟的有氧训练，持续3周。在基线和计划结束时评估了抑郁症状（MADRS和C-BDI）以及身体表现的领域。有氧运动组的受试者在训练3周后，其抑郁得分（MADRS）较对照组明显降低（组间平均差异= 10.08±9.41; P = 0.026）。运动组的柔韧性也有显着改善（组间平均差异= 4.4±6.13; P = 0.02）。缺乏纵向随访来检查有氧运动对抑郁症患者的长期效果。有氧运动除药理干预外还可以在减轻轻度至中度抑郁症的中国人群的抑郁症状和增加灵活性方面起到协同作用。在住院阶段尽早引入运动训练可以帮助弥合抗抑郁药在无反应期间的治疗潜伏期。
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