Sprint interval training (SIT) substantially reduces depressive symptoms in major depressive disorder (MDD): A randomized controlled trial. (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Minghetti, Alice; Faude, Oliver; Hanssen, Henner; Zahner, Lukas; Gerber, Markus; Donath, Lars
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 265(2018)
• Page Start: 292
• Page End: 297
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: Exercise training -- Intermittent exercise -- Interval training -- Inpatient -- Depressive disorder -- Depression; BDI-II Beck Depression Inventory -- BDNF brain-derived neurotrophic factor -- BMI Body Mass Index -- CAT Continuous aerobic exercise training -- f respiratory frequency -- HIT High intensity interval training -- HR Heart rate -- HRV Heart rate variability -- MDD Major depressive disorder -- RCT Randomized controlled trial -- RER Respiratory exchange ratio -- Rpm Revolutions per minute -- SIT Sprint interval training -- VCO2 Carbon dioxide output -- VE/VO2 Equivalent for oxygen uptake -- VE Ventilatory efficiency -- VO2 Oxygen uptake -- VO2peak Maximal oxygen uptake; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.04.053
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Highlights: Sprint interval training and continuous aerobic exercise training are safe exercise modalities for patients suffering from major depressive disorder, with both modalities improving BDI-II scores and physical fitness parameters. Exercise can be applied as complementary treatment option in a supervised clinical setting in patients suffering from MDD even during short-term clinical stays. Exercise should be included in clinical care for MDD and tailored according to individual preferences. Abstract: Continuous aerobic exercise training (CAT) is considered a complementary treatment option in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Intermittent exercise training protocols, such as sprint interval training (SIT) have gained increasing popularity, but no studies on depressive symptoms following SIT in patients with MDD are available. Fifty-nine in-patients with MDD were randomly assigned to a SIT or CAT group. Medication was counterbalanced in both intervention arms. Both intervention groups received 3 weekly training sessions for 4-weeks (12 sessions in total). SIT comprised 25 bouts of 30 seconds at 80% of maximal power, whereas CAT consisted of 20 minutes of physical activity at 60% of maximal power. The training protocols were isocalorically designed. Maximal bicycle ergometer exercise testing yielded maximal and submaximal physical fitness parameters. The Beck-Depression-Inventory-II (BDI-II) was filled out by the patients before and after the intervention period. BDI-II scores substantially decreased in both groups with an effect size pointing towards a large effect ( p < 0.001, ηp ² = 0.70) while submaximal (0.07 < d < 0.89) and maximal (0.05 < d < 0.85) fitness variables improved in both groups. Short-term SIT leads to similar results as CAT in patients with MDD and can be regarded as a time-efficient and promising exercise-based treatment strategy.