Exercise treatment for major depression: Maintenance of therapeutic benefit at 10 months

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the status of 156 adult volunteers with major depressive disorder (MDD) 6 months after completion o f a study in which they were randomly assigned to a 4-month course of aerob ic exercise, sertraline therapy, or a combination of exercise and sertralin e. Methods: The presence and severity of depression were assessed by clinic al interview using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule and the Hamilton Ratin g Scale for Depression (HRSD) and by self-report using the Beck Depression Inventory. Assessments were performed at baseline, after 4 months of treatm ent, and 6 months after treatment was concluded tie, after 10 months). Resu lts: After 4 months patients in all three groups exhibited significant impr ovement; the proportion of remitted participants (ie, those who no longer m et diagnostic criteria for MDD and had an HRSD score <8) was comparable acr oss the three treatment conditions. After 10 months, however, remitted subj ects in the exercise group had significantly lower relapse rates (p = .01) than subjects in the medication group. Exercising on one's own during the f ollow-up period was associated with a reduced probability of depression dia gnosis at the end of that period (odds ratio = 0.49, p = .0009). Conclusion s: Among individuals with MDD, exercise therapy is feasible and is associat ed with significant therapeutic benefit, especially if exercise is continue d over time.