Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor Response to Aerobic Exercise Intensity in Depressive Patients.

Effects of Aerobic Exercise Intensity on Affective States and Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor in Patients With Depression

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT02741622

Enrollment

Registered

2016-04-18

Start date

2016-03-31

Completion date

2016-12-31

Last updated

2018-12-04

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Depressive Disorder, Depressive Disorder, Major

Keywords

Exercise therapy

Brief summary

Acute aerobic exercise improves affective stats in patients with mental illnesses. Brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) may be a biological mechanism that contributes to the affective benefits. The magnitude of the increase of serum BDNF might be exercise intensity dependent, but no study has compared low high-aerobic-intensity training at 90-95 % of the maximal heart rate (HRmax) with long-slow-distance training at 70 % of the HRmax in patients with depression. The aim of this study is to compare changes in serum BDNF levels after high-aerobic-intensity training and long-slow-distance training in a intra-individual design in patients suffering from depression. The results will give indications of a possible difference in BDNF response between aerobic intensities and may be uses as pilot data for calculating sample size.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALHigh aerobic intensity training (HIT)

One training session, high aerobic intensity training (HIT) at 90-95 % of the maximal heart rate (HRmax)

BEHAVIORALLong slow distance training (LSD)

One training session, long slow distance training (LSD) at 70 % of the HRmax

Study design

Allocation

Intervention model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 65 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Moderate or severe depression (ICD10: F32-F33)

Exclusion criteria

* Bipolar disorder.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Change in serum brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF)	15 minutes before exercise to 5> minutes after exercise.	To measure serum BDNF levels, blood samples will be taken before and after each workout session.

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Change in affective symptoms	15 minutes before exercise to 15> minutes after exercise.	The positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) .
Change in state of anxiety.	15 minutes before exercise and 15> minutes after exercise.	A short form of state trait anxiety inventory for adults (STAI) is used to detect their state of anxiety.
Change in subjective exercise experience	15 minutes before exercise to 15> minutes after exercise.	The Subjective exercise experience scale (SEES).
Maximal oxygen uptake	Baseline	—
Maximal Heart rate	Baseline	—

Countries

Norway

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026