Efficacy of Adjunctive Exercise for the Behavioral Treatment of Major Depression

Individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) will be recruited to participate in a free treatment trial of a combined exercise or stretching regimen plus behavioral activation treatment. All individuals will receive 6 weekly and 3 biweekly 1-hour sessions of behavioral activation treatment. Behavioral activation involves exploring values in different life areas (relationships, education/career, interests, etc.) and scheduling activities in line with these values. Research has shown that behavioral activation treatment can improve mood and alleviate depressive symptoms. In addition, participants will be randomized (like a flip of a coin) to either an additional aerobic exercise intervention or an additional stretching intervention. These interventions will take place for half an hour after the first 6 weeks of the behavioral activation intervention. The purpose of this study is to examine if adding an aerobic exercise intervention to a brief psychosocial treatment can improve mood above and beyond an active control condition. Throughout the study, participants will complete computer, questionnaire, and interview assessments as well as exercise tests and a blood draw. The details of each visit are listed below. For full completion of this study, participants can earn up to $100. Screening visit: diagnostic interview, assessment for physical activity risk (brief meeting with physician) Baseline visit (week 0): submaximal exercise test, blood draw, questionnaire measures, computer tests Treatment visit 1 (week 1): BA treatment + EX/STR intervention, brief questionnaires Treatment visit 2 (week 2): BA treatment + EX/STR intervention, brief questionnaires Treatment visit 3 (week 3): BA treatment + EX/STR intervention, brief questionnaires Treatment visit 4 (week 4): BA treatment + EX/STR intervention, questionnaires, submaximal exercise test, blood draw Treatment visit 5 (week 5): BA treatment + EX/STR intervention, brief questionnaires Treatment visit 6 (week 6): BA treatment + EX/STR intervention, brief questionnaires Treatment visit 7 (week 8): BA treatment, questionnaires, submaximal exercise test, blood draw Treatment visit 8 (week 10): BA treatment, brief questionnaires Treatment visit 9 (week 12): BA treatment, questionnaire measures Final assessment (week 16): submaximal exercise test, blood draw, questionnaire measures, computer tests