Institute of Movement and Sport Gerontology, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Department of Geriatric Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, LVR Hospital Cologne, Wilhelm-Griesinger Straße 23, 51109, Cologne, Germany.
Trials. 2022 Jul 30;23(1):615. doi: 10.1186/s13063-022-06567-4.
Major depression is one of the main mental illnesses in old age, with acute exacerbated episodes requiring treatment in geriatric psychiatry. A meta-analysis showed that aerobic exercise in moderate intensity has large effects in older adults with major depression, but there is no evidence of aerobic exercise in geriatric psychiatry. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the feasibility and effects of an ergometer-based aerobic exercise on depressive symptoms.
A single-center randomized controlled trial will be conducted in an acute geriatric psychiatric hospital. Inpatients allocated to the intervention group will receive a 2-week aerobic ergometer program. The control group will receive seated flexibility exercise in addition to usual care. The overall effects on the patients' depressive symptoms will be measured by clinical global impression of change (CGI) as the primary outcome. Changes in depressive symptom domains, physical (in)activity, and aerobic performance as well as the dosage of applied antidepressants will be examined as secondary outcomes.
This short-term aerobic exercise program is expected to decrease depressive symptoms in acute exacerbated periods in older adults. The results may increase the evidence for implementing physical activity interventions in acute hospital settings. The disease-related motivation for exercise in acute exacerbated depressive periods will be the most challenging aspect. The treatment of depression requires new cost-effective approaches, especially in acute geriatric psychiatry with potential benefits for patients, family members, and clinicians.
German Clinical Trial Register ID: DRKS00026117 TRIAL STATUS: Protocol Version 1.2 dated February 23, 2022. By February 23, 2022, the trial had recruited a total of 15 participants in two wards at the Department of Geriatric Psychiatry at the LVR-Hospital Cologne. Recruitment started on November 12, 2021. The recruitment is expected to continue for at least 12 months.
重度抑郁症是老年人的主要精神疾病之一，急性加重期需要老年精神病学治疗。一项荟萃分析表明，中等强度的有氧运动对老年重度抑郁症患者有显著疗效，但老年精神病学中尚无有氧运动的证据。因此，本研究旨在分析基于功率自行车的有氧运动对抑郁症状的可行性和效果。
将在一家急性老年精神病院进行单中心随机对照试验。分配到干预组的住院患者将接受为期 2 周的有氧功率自行车方案。对照组除常规护理外，还将接受坐姿柔韧性运动。主要结局是临床总体印象变化量表（CGI）评估患者抑郁症状的整体变化。还将检查抑郁症状领域、身体（活动）和有氧运动表现以及应用抗抑郁药剂量的变化作为次要结局。
预计该短期有氧运动方案将降低老年急性加重期患者的抑郁症状。结果可能会增加在急性医院环境中实施身体活动干预的证据。在急性加重的抑郁期，与疾病相关的运动动机将是最具挑战性的方面。治疗抑郁症需要新的具有成本效益的方法，特别是在急性老年精神病学中，这对患者、家属和临床医生都有潜在的好处。
德国临床试验注册中心注册号：DRKS00026117；试验状态：2022 年 2 月 23 日的方案版本 1.2。截至 2022 年 2 月 23 日，该试验已在科隆 LVR 医院老年精神病学系的两个病房共招募了 15 名参与者。招募于 2021 年 11 月 12 日开始。预计招募将至少持续 12 个月。
