Braining- Aerobic Physical Activity as Add on Treatment in Bipolar Depression

The hypothesis of this study is that adding aerobic PE might accelerate recovery, reduce negative side effects, improve mental wellbeing and function, increase long term prevention against relapsing bipolar episodes and reduce risk for complications such as cardiovascular disease in patients with bipolar disorder. Furthermore the study aims to evaluate if the effect of PE is linked to biological factors such as genetical factors, stress hormone levels, level of inflammation and other biological markers for health and disease that can be measured in standard blood samples. Patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder with ongoing depression are invited to participate in the study at regular visits in the psychiatric clinic. All study participants are medicated with mood stabilizers according to routine treatment and receive regular treatment for bipolar depression. After informed consent the study participants will be randomized to one of three groups 1) moderate to vigorous PE group training together with psychiatric staff three times per week 2) relaxing and stretching exercises group training together with psychiatric staff three times per week 3) information about PE and relaxation but no supervised PE or relaxation/stretching, for the 6 weeks of the study period. BEFORE: The first week consists of pre-test including interview regarding medical history and physical and psychiatric examination, ECG and blood samples. To measure level of physical activity the participants wear an activity monitor, Actiheart, that continuously registers physical activity for 7 days. The study participants will also fill out different questionnaires regarding general health and psychiatric symptoms. STUDY PERIOD: During the 6 weeks long study period the participants fill out an activity questionnaire and health questionnaires once a week. AFTER: during the sixth week of the study period evaluation is being performed with repetition of the physical and psychiatric examination, blood samples and questionnaires. After 1, 2 and 3 years after the exercise period the questionnaires are repeated. Blood samples are repeated one year after the study period.