Is Strength Training as Effective as Aerobic Training for Depression in Older Adults? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Helena S Moraes; Heitor S Silveira; Natacha A Oliveira; Eduardo Matta Mello Portugal; Narahyana B Araújo; Paulo E Vasques; Astrid Bergland; Tony M Santos; Knut Engedal; Evandro S Coutinho; Felipe B Schuch; Jerson Laks; Andrea C Deslandes

doi:10.1159/000503750

Is Strength Training as Effective as Aerobic Training for Depression in Older Adults? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Neuropsychobiology. 2020;79(2):141-149. doi: 10.1159/000503750. Epub 2019 Oct 28.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Laboratório de Neurociência do Exercício, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, helenasmoraes@gmail.com.
² Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, helenasmoraes@gmail.com.
³ Laboratório de Neurociência do Exercício, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
⁴ Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
⁵ Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
⁶ Departamento de Educação Física, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, Brazil.
⁷ Norwegian Centre for Aging and Health, Vestfold Health Trust and the University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
⁸ Instituto de Medicina Social da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
⁹ Departamento de Métodos e Técnicas Desportivas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
¹⁰ Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biomedicina Translacional, Universidade do Grande Rio (Unigranrio), Duque de Caxias, Brazil.

PMID: 31658460
DOI: 10.1159/000503750

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to compare the effects of aerobic training (AT), strength training (ST) and low-intensity exercise in a control group (CG) as adjunct treatments to pharmacotherapy for major depressive disorder (MDD) in older persons.

Methods: Older persons clinically diagnosed with MDD (n = 27) and treated with antidepressants were blindly randomized into three groups: AT, ST and a CG. All patients were evaluated prior to and 12 weeks after the intervention.

Results: Compared with the CG, the AT and ST groups showed significant reductions in depressive symptoms (treatment -response = 50% decrease in the pre- to postintervention assessment) through the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (AT group: χ2, p = 0.044) and Beck Depression Inventory (ST group: χ2, p = 0.044).

Conclusion: Adding AT or ST with moderate intensity to the usual treatment promoted a greater reduction of MDD symptoms.

Keywords: Elderly patients; Mental health; Physical exercise.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Aged
Aging*
Depressive Disorder, Major / therapy*
Exercise Therapy / methods*
Exercise*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Outcome Assessment, Health Care*
Resistance Training*