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A Study of Aerobic Exercise for Adolescents With Subthreshold Mood Syndromes

A Randomised Controlled Trial of Aerobic Exercise for Adolescents With Subthreshold Depressive and/or Hypomanic Syndrome and for Non-clinical Adolescents

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03300778
Enrollment
224
Registered
2017-10-03
Start date
2017-10-10
Completion date
2018-01-12
Last updated
2018-08-23

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

Conditions

Depressive Symptoms, Hypomania Nos Single Episode or Unspecified

Keywords

neurocognition, high-risk, prognosis

Brief summary

This study will investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on mental states, cognition, and long-term outcomes in adolescents with subthreshold depressive and/or hypomanic syndromes and in non-clinical school children

Detailed description

Subthreshold depressive and hypomanic symptoms are common in adolescents, increasing the risk of developping into depression or bipolar disorder. Preliminary evidence shows that aerobic exercise might have positive effects in enhancing cognition and improving clinical symptoms in non-clinical and preclinical population and patients with mood disorders. This randomized controlled trial will investigate short-term (3 months) effects of aerobic exercise on cognition and clinical symptoms as well as the long-term (18 months) effects on the clinical outcomes of high-risk states.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALaerobic exercise

Running at the intensity of 50%-70% of maximum heart rate (220-age) for 30 mins per day, 4 days per week, last for 3 months

6 sections of group activities: 3 sections of general psychological education; one section of group game, one section of group poetry reading activity, group singing entertainment.

Sponsors

Guangzhou Psychiatric Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER_GOV

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
12 Years to 14 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. 2 or more DSM-IV defined depressive symptoms, with one as core symptoms ( lost interest or pleasure in activity or depressed mood), lasting for 1 week. 2. 2 or more DSM-IV defined manic symptoms, last for 4 days, but falling short of the criteria for hypomania; or meeting DSM-5 defined symptoms criteria for hypomania, lasting 2-3 days. 3. non-clinical subjects

Exclusion criteria

* DSM-IV defined major depressive disorder * DSM-IV defined hypo/mania * History of or current other Axis I Disorders * Diagnosed neurological or musculoskeletal disorder/injury, * Uncontrolled cardiovascular or metabolic diseases that are not suitable for running * Diagnosed hypertension * Other diagnosed serious medical conditions that are not suitable for cycling * Severe suicidal ideation * Mental retardation * Currently participating in a exercise program or activity, defined as 30 minutes of vigorous physical activity 4-5 times per week

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Changes in depressive symptoms12 weeksChanges in depressive symptoms measured by Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
Changes in neurocognitive function12 weeksChanges in neurocognitive function measured by the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) after three months (12 weeks) of aerobic exercise

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
changes in anxious symptoms12 weeksanxious symptoms measured by Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90)
Changes in brain connectivity12 weeksusing fMRI to measure brain connectivity
Number of participants with subthreshold mood symptoms18 monthsnumber of participants who meet the subthreshold syndromes for depression and/or hypomania
Changes in hypomanic symptoms12 weekschanges in hypomanic symptoms measured by Hypomania Check List-15(HCL-15)

Countries

China

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 27, 2026