Effectiveness of Physical Exercise in Older Adults With Mild to Moderate Depression.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

We sought to compare the effectiveness of physical exercise with that of treatment with antidepressant drugs routinely used in clinical practice, in terms of decreasing depressive symptomatology in patients aged ≥65 years who present with clinical criteria of a depressive episode.

Methods

We conducted a randomized clinical trial in a primary care setting. A total of 347 patients aged ≥65 years with a clinically significant depressive episode were randomized to participation in a supervised physical exercise program or to receive antidepressant treatment by their general practitioners.

Results

Intention-to-treat analysis showed that the cumulative incidence of improvement in depressive symptomatology (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale score <10) in the

SUBMITTER: Hidalgo JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8282290 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul-Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature