Swathi Gujral1, Howard Aizenstein2, Charles F Reynolds2, Meryl A Butters2, George Grove3, Jordan F Karp2, Kirk I Erickson3. 1. VA VISN 4 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center of Excellence (SG), Pittsburgh; Department of Psychology (SG, GG, KIE), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh; Department of Psychiatry (SG, HA, CFR, MAB, JFK), Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh. Electronic address: shemacha@gmail.com. 2. Department of Psychiatry (SG, HA, CFR, MAB, JFK), Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh. 3. Department of Psychology (SG, GG, KIE), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of an exercise augmentation to pharmacotherapy in depressed younger and older adults while exploring neural mechanisms. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was conducted in 15 inactive younger (20-39 years) and older (60-79 years) adults meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, criteria for a major depressive episode (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02407704). Participants were randomized to receive a 12-week regimen of venlafaxine XR or venlafaxine XR plus supervised exercise. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed using a submaximal Vo2 test, and neuroimaging assessments were conducted using a Siemans MAGNETOM 7-Tesla magnetic resonance scanner at the University of Pittsburgh. RESULTS:Attrition was 38% and 14% for the medication and exercise groups, respectively. Attendance was 91% for the exercise intervention. Exploratory analyses revealed an association between improvement in fitness and increased cortical thickness in the anterior cingulate cortex. CONCLUSION:Exercise augmentation to pharmacotherapy is feasible for depressed younger and older adults and may have neural benefits in a core brain region implicated in depression. Published by Elsevier Inc.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of an exercise augmentation to pharmacotherapy in depressed younger and older adults while exploring neural mechanisms. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was conducted in 15 inactive younger (20-39 years) and older (60-79 years) adults meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, criteria for a major depressive episode (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02407704). Participants were randomized to receive a 12-week regimen of venlafaxine XR or venlafaxine XR plus supervised exercise. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed using a submaximal Vo2 test, and neuroimaging assessments were conducted using a Siemans MAGNETOM 7-Tesla magnetic resonance scanner at the University of Pittsburgh. RESULTS: Attrition was 38% and 14% for the medication and exercise groups, respectively. Attendance was 91% for the exercise intervention. Exploratory analyses revealed an association between improvement in fitness and increased cortical thickness in the anterior cingulate cortex. CONCLUSION: Exercise augmentation to pharmacotherapy is feasible for depressed younger and older adults and may have neural benefits in a core brain region implicated in depression. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Authors: Swathi Gujral; Howard Aizenstein; Charles F Reynolds; Meryl A Butters; Kirk I Erickson Journal: Gen Hosp Psychiatry Date: 2017-11 Impact factor: 3.238