The effect of aerobic exercise with different intensity and frequency on depressive symptoms / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effects of aerobic exercised on patients with depression.Methods Patients with depression according to the Chinese classification of mental disorders criteria were recruited during January 2011 to December 2012.Patients were divided into exercise group and control group randomly.The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) was used to evaluate the depressive symptom of patients.Patients in exercise group were divided into low intensity aerobic exercise,3 sessions per week and 5 sessions per week,and high intensity aerobic exercise 3 sessions per week and 5 sessions per week.Stretching exercises worked as a control.The four exercise groups were compared with stretching exercise group with efficiency.The control group was treated with pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy.The HAMD scores of aerobic exercise group with different intensity and frequency were compared with the scores of control group after the 1,2,4and 6 weeks of treatment.Results High-dose exercise was more effective in treating depression compared with stretching(P ＜ 0.05),but low-dose exercise did not produce the desired benefits.The scores of patients with high intensity aerobic exercise 3 sessions per week were significantly different from scores of control group after 6 weeks treatment,and the scores of HAMD were (10.72 ± 2.45) and (15.22 ± 4.13).The scores of patients with high intensity aerobic exercise 5 sessions per week were significantly different from scores of control group after 4 weeks treatment,and the scores of HAMD were (14.15 ± 3.25)and(18.31 ± 3.32).Conclusion High intensity and high frequency aerobic exercise could significantly reduce depressive symptoms.