Helgadottir B, et al. – This study analyzed long–term impacts of prescribed exercise on depression, performed at 3 intensity levels. At 12–month follow–up, a significant reduction in depression severity was observed in patients who performed only light exercise, compared with those who received usual care for depression. Reported efficacy of both light and vigorous exercise was more than that of moderate exercise.

Methods

• A single-blind, parallel randomized control trial was conducted that lasted for 12 weeks (Sweden 2011–2013) and included people aged 18–67 years with mild to moderate depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score of ≥ 10).
• Four arms were included: Treatment as usual (TAU, n = 310), light (n = 106), moderate (n = 105) and vigorous exercise (n = 99).
• The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) was used to assess the severity of depression at baseline, post-treatment and 12-month follow-up.
• In addition, coefficients (β) and odds ratios were estimated using linear mixed models with time × group interactions.

Results

• Findings demonstrated that at the 12 month follow-up the light exercise group had significantly lower depression severity scores than the TAU (- 1.9, 95% CI: - 3.7, - 0.04) and the moderate exercise group (- 2.94 95% CI: - 5.2, - 0.7).
• Researchers observed that the vigorous exercise group had significantly lower scores than the moderate exercise group only (- 2.7, 95% CI: - 4.9, - 0.4).