scholarly journals Effects of exercise on depressive symptoms in older adults with poorly responsive depressive disorder

2002 ◽  
Vol 180 (5) ◽  
pp. 411-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne S. Mather ◽  
Cesar Rodriguez ◽  
Moyra F. Guthrie ◽  
Anne M. McHarg ◽  
Ian C. Reid ◽  
...  

BackgroundDepression is common in later life.AimsTo determine whether exercise is effective as an adjunct to antidepressant therapy in reducing depressive symptoms in older people.MethodPatients were randomised to attend either exercise classes or health education talks for 10 weeks. Assessments were made ‘blind’ at baseline, and at 10 and 34 weeks. The primary outcome was seen with the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). Secondary outcomes were seen with the Geriatric Depression Scale, Clinical Global Impression and Patient Global Impression.ResultsAt 10 weeks a significantly higher proportion of the exercise group (55% v. 33%) experienced a greater than 30% decline in depression according to HRSD (OR=2.51, P=0.05, 95% Cl 1.00–6.38).ConclusionsBecause exercise was associated with a modest improvement in depressive symptoms at 10 weeks, older people with poorly responsive depressive disorder should be encouraged to attend group exercise activities.

Author(s):  
Linda D. Zech ◽  
Maike Scherf-Clavel ◽  
Christine Daniels ◽  
Michael Schwab ◽  
Jürgen Deckert ◽  
...  

AbstractDepression is a common psychiatric disorder among geriatric patients that decreases the quality of life and increases morbidity and mortality. Vitamin D as a neuro-steroid hormone might play a role in the onset and treatment of depression. In the present study, the association between depressive symptoms and vitamin D concentration in serum was evaluated. 140 patients of a psychogeriatric day-care unit were included. The geriatric depression scale (GDS) and the Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) were assessed at the beginning and end of treatment, GDS scores additionally 6 weeks after discharge from the day-care unit. Vitamin D levels were measured at the beginning of the treatment, routinely. Patients with levels below 30 µg/L were treated with 1000 IU vitamin D per day. There was no association between the severity of depressive symptoms and the concentration of vitamin D at the beginning of the treatment. Patients with higher vitamin D levels showed a stronger decline of depressive symptoms measured by the GDS during their stay in the day-care unit. We provide evidence that vitamin D serum levels might influence antidepressant therapy response in a geriatric population. Prospective studies are necessary to determine which patients may profit from add-on vitamin D therapy.


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 291-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salih Saygin Eker ◽  
Ebru Oztepe Yavasci ◽  
Sengul Cangur ◽  
Selcuk Kirli ◽  
Emre Sarandol

ObjectiveThe aim of the current study is to determine whether serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) can be biological indicators for the diagnosis of schizophrenia in patients with depressive symptoms.MethodForty-seven patients (11 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, 16 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and comorbid depression and 20 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder) and 20 healthy subjects were enrolled. The Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale, the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale were used for assessment. The serum BDNF and IL-2 levels of all the subjects were studied.ResultsDecreased levels of serum BDNF and increased levels of serum IL-2 were found in the patients diagnosed with either schizophrenia, schizophrenia with depression, or major depressive disorder (p = 0.049, p = 0.010; p = 0.001 and p = 0.044; p = 0.027, p = 0.003; respectively) compared with control group. There were no significant differences between the patient groups in their serum BDNF and IL-2 levels.ConclusionsThe present study suggests that neurotrophic factors and immune system changes are involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia with or without depressive symptomatology. However, the data do not clarify whether depressive symptoms in schizophrenia occur as a dimension of schizophrenia or as symptoms of major depression that is comorbid with schizophrenia.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S646-S647
Author(s):  
F.S. Bersani ◽  
R. Vicinanza ◽  
E. d’Ottavio ◽  
M. Biondi ◽  
M. Cacciafesta ◽  
...  

BackgroundDepressive symptoms in the elderly are related to the advancing of age, loss of life purpose, medical multi-morbidity, cognitive decline and social-economic problems mounting evidence suggests that lifestyle behaviors and certain dietary patterns may improve mood and overall well-being in older adults. In the present study we investigated (i) the association of adherence to Med-Diet with depressive symptoms and multi-morbidity in a cohort of geriatric medical outpatients and (ii) the role of Med-Diet in mediating the association between depressive symptoms and multi-morbidity.MethodsMorbidity was assessed using the severity index of cumulative illness rating scale for geriatrics (CIRSG-SI). Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and geriatric depression scale (GDS) were administrated to evaluate cognitive and depressive symptoms. Adherence to Med-Diet was evaluated using the Med-Diet 14-Item questionnaire (MDQ). Pearson correlation was used to test association between variables. The Preacher and Hayes’ strategy was used to test the mediational model.ResultsOne hundred and forty-three subjects were included in the study. Significant inverse correlations of MDQ with GDS (r = -0.317; P < 0.001) and CIRSG-SI (r = -0.247; P = 0.003) were found, with and without adjustment for potential confounders. A direct correlation between CIRSG-SI and GDS was also observed (r = 0.304; P = 0.001), with this association being moderated by MDQ (b = 0.386; P = 0.047).ConclusionThese findings (i) add to the accumulating evidence that Med-Diet is crucially involved in the regulation of physical and mental health of elderly people, and (ii) suggest that a Mediterranean-style diet may contribute to protect elderly subjects with higher levels of polypathology/multi-morbidity from the development of depressive symptoms.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 284-284
Author(s):  
Milan Chang ◽  
Chiharu Nishizuka ◽  
Hrafnhildur Eymundsdottir ◽  
Sigurveig Sigurdardottir ◽  
Alfons Ramel ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Disability and depression are associated with cumulative health adversities such as socioeconomic status (SES), nutrition, medical care, and education among older adults. However, there is little evidence on the longitudinal association between mid-life education level with a disability and depressive symptoms in older adults in Iceland. The aim of the study was to examine the association between mid-life education and prevalence of activity of daily living (ADL) dependency and high depressive symptoms in late-life. Methods A large community-based population residing in Reykjavik, Iceland (n=4991, 57.3% women, 76.9±5.8 yrs) participated in a longitudinal study with an average of 25 years of follow-up. Mid-life education was categorized into 4 groups (primary, secondary, college, and university). ADL dependency and high depressive symptoms were assessed on average 25 (±4) years later. The 5-item ADL dependency score ranged between 0 (no difficulty) and 18. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Results After controlling for demographic and health-related risk factors, those with higher education at mid-life were significantly less likely to have high depressive symptomatology (6 or higher GDS scores, Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.65, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.52 ~ 0.82, P &lt; 0.0001). However, mid-life education was not associated with ADL dependency in later life. Conclusion Our study shows that mid-life education is associated with depressive symptoms 25 years later, while no association found with ADL dependency among Icelandic older adults.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taishi Tsuji ◽  
Satoru Kanamori ◽  
Ryota Watanabe ◽  
Meiko Yokoyama ◽  
Yasuhiro Miyaguni ◽  
...  

AbstractThe current study investigated the relationship between the frequency of watching sports and depressive symptoms among older adults. This study used cross-sectional data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, a nationwide mail survey of 21,317 older adults. Depressive symptoms were defined as a Geriatric Depression Scale score of ≥ 5. Participants were queried regarding the average frequency at which they watched sports on-site and via TV/Internet over the past year. Among the 21,317 participants, 4559 (21.4%) had depressive symptoms, while 4808 (22.6%) and 16,576 (77.8%) watched sports on-site and via TV/Internet at least once a year, respectively. Older adults who watched sports on-site a few times/year (prevalence ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.65–0.74) or 1–3 times/month (0.66, 0.53–0.82) were less likely to have depressive symptoms compared to non-spectators after adjusting for frequency of playing sports, exercise activities, and other potential confounders. Meanwhile, a dose–response relationship was confirmed for watching via TV/Internet (prevalence ratio of 0.86, 0.79, and 0.71 for a few times/year, 1–3 times/month, and ≥ 1 time/week, respectively). This study suggested that watching sports on-site or via TV/Internet, regardless of whether they regularly engage in sports, may reduce the risk of depressive symptoms among older adults.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1334
Author(s):  
Sławomir Kujawski ◽  
Agnieszka Kujawska ◽  
Radosław Perkowski ◽  
Joanna Androsiuk-Perkowska ◽  
Weronika Hajec ◽  
...  

Background: Prevalence of subjective memory impairment (SMC), with or without objective memory impairment, and the mediating role of depression symptom intensity was examined in older people. Methods: n = 205 subjects (60 years old and older) were examined and followed up at two years. Cognitive function was examined using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Delayed Recall (DR) subtest. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used as a screening tool for depression. Statistical analysis was performed using linear mixed models. Results: A total of 144 subjects (70.24%) had SMC. MoCA Delayed Recall scores were not significantly changed in relation to time and SMC. Dynamics of SMC significantly influenced changes in GDS score (p = 0.008). Conclusions: SMC and objective memory impairment do not fully overlap each other. Subjects without SMC for longer than two years noted less intensity of depression symptoms in comparison to subgroup with SMC. However, occurrence of SMC in subjects who were previously free of SMC, was not related to increase in depression symptom intensity.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. s235-s235
Author(s):  
L. Lemos ◽  
H. Espírito-Santo ◽  
S. Simões ◽  
F. Silva ◽  
J. Galhardo ◽  
...  

IntroductionElderly institutionalization involves an emotional adaptation and the research shows that the risk of depression increases.ObjectivesEvaluate the impact of a neuropsychological group rehabilitation program (NGRP) on depressive symptomatology of institutionalized elderly.AimsNGRP influences the decrease of depressive symptoms.MethodsElderly were assessed pre- and post-intervention with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and divided into a Rehabilitated Group (RG), a Waiting List Group (WLG), and a Neutral Task Group (NTG).ResultsIn this randomized study, before rehabilitation, 60 elderly people (RG; 80.31 ± 8.98 years of age; 74.2% women) had a mean GDS score of 13.33 (SD = 9.21). Five elderly included in the NTG (80.13 ± 10.84 years; 75.0% women) had a mean GDS score of 10.60 (SD = 4.72). Finally, 29 elderly in the WLG (81.32 ± 6.68 years; 69.0% women) had a mean GDS score of 14.93 (SD = 6.02). The groups were not different in GDS baseline scores (F = 0.74; P = 0.478). ANCOVA has shown significant differences (P < 0.05) in GDS scores between the three groups after 10 weeks. Sidak adjustment for multiple comparisons revealed that elderly in the WLG got worse scores in GDS, comparing with elderly in RG (P < 0.01), and with elderly in NTG (P < 0.05).ConclusionsElderly that are not involved in a task get worse in depressive symptomatology. Being involved in a structured group task means lower depressive symptoms and being in a NGRP means even greater results.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
César L. Reichert ◽  
César L. Diogo ◽  
José L. Vieira ◽  
Roberta R. Dalacorte

OBJECTIVE: To determine the existence of a relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling elders. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional, population-based study, which included 379 community-dwelling elders from Novo Hamburgo, state of RS, Brazil. The level of physical activity was estimated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and depressive symptoms were diagnosed according to the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale. The association between the level of physical activity and depressive symptoms was analyzed by logistic regression. RESULTS: A tendency towards a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms was observed in individuals with higher levels of physical activity, both in the sample as a whole as well as among men, but not among women (p for linear trend 0.04, 0.03 and 0.36, respectively). The odds ratio of the presence of depressive symptoms in the very active group, as compared against that of the insufficiently active group was 0.32 (95% CI: 0.12-0.86) for men and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.39-1.46) for women. CONCLUSION: In this population of aged individuals, more intense physical activity is related to a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms. As shown by gender stratification, physical activity is inversely related to depressive symptoms in men, albeit not in women.


2012 ◽  
pp. 261-268
Author(s):  
Salvatore La Carrubba ◽  
Loredana Manna ◽  
Carmelina Rinollo ◽  
Antonino Mazzone ◽  
Gualberto Gussoni ◽  
...  

Introduction: There are few data on the prevalence of depression among acute patients with comorbidities. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in hospitalized patients admitted to Internal Medicine Units and the correlation between these symptoms and comorbidities and disability indexes. Materials and methods: All consecutive patients admitted to 26 Internal Medicine Units of the Italian National Public Health System in Sicily, Italy, from September 2001 to March 2002 were screened. Within 24 hours of admission, patients were administered the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Mini-Mental State Examination, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) and Charlson’s Comorbidity Index. Results: 1,947 subjects were included in the analyses. Of the patients, 509 (26.1%) showed depressive symptoms (indicated by GDS score > 15). Depression was significantly associated (univariate analyses) with hypertension (OR 1.45; CI 95% 1.18-1.79), diabetes (OR 1.48, CI 95% 1.17-1.87), cerebrovascular disease (OR 1.50, CI 95% 1.08-2.07), cirrhosis (OR 1.49, CI 95% 1.01- 2.19), ADL score (OR 0.72: CI 95% 0.63-0.82), and IADL score (OR 0.83; CI 95% 0.78-0.87), but not with Charlson’s Comorbidity Index (OR 1.04; CI 95% 0.98-1.10). Multivariate analysis showed that independent predictive factors for depression were age (OR 1.02, CI 95% 1.01-1.02), female gender (OR 2.29, CI 95% 1.83 - 2.87), and IADL score (OR 0.86, CI 95% 0.81 - 0.93). Conclusions: The data suggest that depressive symptoms are not linked to worse clinical conditions but are associated with the loss of autonomy in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living.


2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francine Gachupin ◽  
Michael D. Romero ◽  
Willa J. Ortega ◽  
Rita Jojola-Dorame ◽  
Hugh Hendrie ◽  
...  

<p><strong>Objectives</strong>: Few data exist on cognitive and depressive symptoms and vascular factors in American Indian (AI) elders. Since vascular risk factors increase risk for cognitive impairments, depression and dementia, and since AI elders are at high vascular risk, it is timely to assess the interplay of these factors in comprehensive studies of aging in this population. To begin, pilot studies must be conducted to show these types of data can be collected successfully.</p><p><strong>Design:</strong> A cross-sectional pilot study, the Southwest Heart Mind Study (SHMS). Setting: Tribal community in the Southwest United States. Participants: AI elders, aged ≥55 years.</p><p><strong>Main Outcome Measures:</strong> Cross-cultural demographic, social network and risk factor surveys; tests of cognition, depression and anxiety; physical measurements; blood biochemistries; and APOE genotyping.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> SHMS elders were comparable to other rural elder populations on cognitive and depressive symptom scores. The average CogScore was 28.8 (out of 32), the average Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was 6.7 (of 30), and the average Hamilton Anxiety Scale was 1.2 (of 4). 32% possessed at least one APOEe4 allele. High vascular risk was evident: 76% were overweight or obese; 54% self-reported history of hypertension; 24% heart trouble; 32% type 2 diabetes; 35% depression; and 24% a family history of serious memory loss. More than 70% reported prescription medication use. 54% cared for someone besides self.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> A better understanding of the burden of vascular risk in relation to cognition and depression among Southwest Tribes is needed. <em>Ethn Dis.</em> 2016;26(2):235- 244; doi:10.18865/ed.26.2.235</p>


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