None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent chronic psychiatric disorder associated with reduced quality of life, hence posting substantial socioeconomic challenges to the community. Yet, effective routine strategies, pharmaceuticals and non-pharmaceuticals, that are in use in mental health management to reduce this burden are limited. Considering a clear unmet clinical need and the development of new technologies, this project proposes to conduct a pilot study, We hypothesise that the virtual sailing exercise over a 6 week period will reduce depression and improve the quality of life for people with MDD. We also hypothesis that the virtual sailing program could result in neuroplastic changes in the brain that restore altered functional connectivity MDD. Investigating the therapeutic potential of virtual sailing in the treatment of adults with MDD to establish evidence-informed strategies for future clinical translation.
Interventions
This project aims to investigate whether a simulated (virtual) sailing exercise could improve depression and the quality of life for adults with major depressive disorder. Under the supervision of an exercise scientist, each consenting participant will participate a 6-week virtual sailing program (one session per week, 30mins per session).
The participants will train on a virtual Sydney harbour Trapezoid course used in the Sydney 2000 Olympic games. Before testing each eligible participant wi
This project aims to investigate whether a simulated (virtual) sailing exercise could improve depression and the quality of life for adults with major depressive disorder. Under the supervision of an exercise scientist, each consenting participant will participate a 6-week virtual sailing program (one session per week, 30mins per session). The participants will train on a virtual Sydney harbour Trapezoid course used in the Sydney 2000 Olympic games. Before testing each eligible participant will be briefed on the simulator, equipment, and safety features. After being seated in the V-Sail simulator, participants will be given sailing instructions, starting with all the information that the simulator provides on the TV screen. The information provided on the TV screen relates to wind direction, twin tails attached to sails, the angle of the boat and course. Once the participants have grasped the sailing fundamentals they will be taught how to steer the yacht and how to sail around objects (e.g. rocks and buoys) and how to berth the yacht. When they are comfortable with steering the yacht, we will then introduce the mainsheet. Participants will learn how to adjust the main sail in order to control the speed of the yacht. Participants will be assessed with depression and functioning, motor coordination and brain activity at baseline (prior to the first sailing session) and post-intervention (after the last sailing session). This will be a one-to-one training session and exercise attendance will be recorded. The virtual sailing exercise program will be conducted at the Future of Factory Lab, Ground floor, Advanced Manufacturing and Design Centre, Swinburne University of Technology, Burwood Road, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122.
Sponsors
Swinburne University of Technology
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 64 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
• Aged between 18- and 64-year-old • A diagnosis of major depression disorders • Sufficient fluency in English to complete all baseline and outcome assessments. • Have the capacity to participate in virtual sailing exercises determined by the pre-exercise screening. • Have the capacity to consent. to the study and to follow its instructions and procedures.
Exclusion criteria
• Aged under 18- or above 64-year-old, • Any diagnosis or history of impaired visual acuity, or cerebellar function impairment. • Already received any exercise therapy (e.g. undertaking prescribed physical activity to correct, restore and/or maintain a stature of function or well-being) at another service (a gym or health care setting) within the last 2 years, to avoid contamination. • A diagnosis of bipolar disorder and/or another psychotic disorder and/or current substance use disorder. • Undergoing electroconvulsive therapy or transcranial magnetic stimulus therapy within one month of the recruitment of the study. • Current enrolment in another mental health intervention study. • Participants with current suicidal ideation with a specific plan. • Participants with motion sickness
Outcome results
None listed