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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2007 Jan;11(1):61-8.
doi: 10.1080/13607860600736372.

Treatment of minor depression in older adults: a pilot study comparing sertraline and exercise

G A Brenes  1 , J D Williamson, S P Messier, W J Rejeski, M Pahor, E Ip, B W J H Penninx
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Treatment of minor depression in older adults: a pilot study comparing sertraline and exercise

G A Brenes et al. Aging Ment Health. 2007 Jan.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to conduct a pilot clinical trial to test the feasibility and efficacy of an exercise program and anti-depressant treatment compared with usual care in improving the emotional and physical functioning of older adults with minor depression. Participants were 37 older adults with minor depression who were randomized to exercise, sertraline, or usual care; 32 participants completed the 16-week study. Outcomes included measures of both emotional (clinician and self-report) and physical (observed and self-report) functioning. There were trends for the superiority of the exercise and sertraline conditions over usual care in improving SF-36 mental health scores and clinician-rated depression scores. Individuals in the exercise condition showed greater improvements in physical functioning than individuals in the usual care condition. Both sertraline and exercise show promise as treatments for late-life minor depression. However, exercise has the added benefit of improving physical functioning as well.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Impact of treatment on Hamilton Depression Rating Scale adjusted for baseline values depression. Overall p = .13; exercise vs. usual care p = .09; medication vs. usual care p = .06.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Impact of treatment on the mental health component of the SF-36 adjusted for baseline values of mental health. Overall p = .07; exercise vs. usual care p = .02; medication vs. usual care p = .23.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Impact of treatment on physical disability adjusted for baseline values of disability. Overall p = .08; exercise vs. usual care p = .19; medication vs. usual care p = .27.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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