Fernanda Castro Monteiro1, Felipe Barreto Schuch2, Andrea Camaz Deslandes3, Davy Vancampfort4, Bruno Paz Mosqueiro5, Mateus Frizzo Messinger5, Marco Antonio Caldieraro6, Marcelo Pio de Almeida Fleck6. 1. Post-graduation Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil; Psychiatry Department, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2350, Postal Code 90.035-903, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Laboratory of Neuroscience of Exercise (LaNEx), Institute of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil. Electronic address: fmpersonalfm@gmail.com. 2. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Brazil. 3. Post-graduation Program in Psychiatry and Mental Health, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil; Laboratory of Neuroscience of Exercise (LaNEx), Institute of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil. 4. KU Leuven, University Psychiatric Center KU Leuven, Leuven-Kortenberg, Belgium. 5. Post-graduation Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil. 6. Post-graduation Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil; Psychiatry Department, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2350, Postal Code 90.035-903, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the barriers, benefits and correlates of physical activity (PA) in outpatients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). METHODS: Data were collected from outpatients under treatment for MDD at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Barriers and benefits were assessed with the Exercise Barriers/Benefits Scale (EBBS). Objective and self-reported PA were assessed with pedometers and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), respectively. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 65 outpatients (82% female; mean age = 50.9 years; SD = 10.1). Improvement in physical performance was the most reported benefit (mean = 3.00; SD = 0.3) while the most reported barrier was physical exertion (mean = 2.95; SD = 0.4). Depression symptom severity was negatively correlated with life enhancement (r = -0.337; p = 0.009), physical performance (r=-0.348; p = 0.007), psychological outlook (r=-0.364; p = 0.005), social interaction (r=-0.317; p = 0.015) and preventive health (r=-0.352; p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Physical exertion is the most perceived barrier for PA in people with MDD. Symptom severity is associated with higher barrier levels, whilst higher current PA levels are associated with more benefits and lesser barriers. Interventions targeting PA promotion should consider the identified benefits and barriers when developing PA programs for people with MDD in outpatient settings.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the barriers, benefits and correlates of physical activity (PA) in outpatients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). METHODS: Data were collected from outpatients under treatment for MDD at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Barriers and benefits were assessed with the Exercise Barriers/Benefits Scale (EBBS). Objective and self-reported PA were assessed with pedometers and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), respectively. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 65 outpatients (82% female; mean age = 50.9 years; SD = 10.1). Improvement in physical performance was the most reported benefit (mean = 3.00; SD = 0.3) while the most reported barrier was physical exertion (mean = 2.95; SD = 0.4). Depression symptom severity was negatively correlated with life enhancement (r = -0.337; p = 0.009), physical performance (r=-0.348; p = 0.007), psychological outlook (r=-0.364; p = 0.005), social interaction (r=-0.317; p = 0.015) and preventive health (r=-0.352; p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Physical exertion is the most perceived barrier for PA in people with MDD. Symptom severity is associated with higher barrier levels, whilst higher current PA levels are associated with more benefits and lesser barriers. Interventions targeting PA promotion should consider the identified benefits and barriers when developing PA programs for people with MDD in outpatient settings.