This is a pilot study examining the delivery of a remotely delivered, one-on-one, individualized physical activity (PA) program in adult participants with treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
More than one-third of patients with major depressive disorder will not respond to at least two antidepressant medication trials, meeting the criteria for TRD. As a result, alternative therapeutic modalities, such as PA, are garnering interest. Numerous studies have reported an association between PA and improvements in mood and mental health. The MoveU.HappyU PA program is an initiative that considers individuals' PA preferences and priorities and works collaboratively to develop individualized PA programs. The program has been found to improve depressive symptoms in a non-clinical sample of university students. This is a single-site, pilot, randomized controlled clinical trial. The trial will evaluate the feasibility of randomizing adult participants with TRD to a remotely delivered one-on-one individualized PA program (MoveU.HappyU) in addition to treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU. The trial will also assess the acceptability of the PA program and collect data to monitor the efficacy of the PA program for depressive and anxiety symptoms as well as quality of life. This trial includes the use of a digital platform to evaluate the effect of the PA program on passive physiological data that are collected through the use of a wearable device. Thirty participants will be randomized in a 2:1 allocation to one of two treatment arms: 1) TAU with a 4-week remotely delivered, one-on-one, individualized PA program add-on; 2) TAU without the PA program add-on. Participants in both arms will complete the same clinician-administered scales, self-reported mental health questionnaires, and use a wearable device. After the 4-week interventional period, participants will enter a 6-week observational follow-up period.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
30
Participants will meet with their program trainer once a week virtually for 4 weeks to engage in 30 minutes of behavioral change coaching and 30 minutes of a structured PA program that is tailored to their needs and goals. The intensity of the PA sessions will be self-selected. PA sessions will involve a warmup, a conditioning component consisting of individualized aerobic or resistance exercises, and a cool down/stretch. Participants will also be instructed to independently engage in PA (outside of their session with the trainer) for 120 minutes at 50-65% of their maximum work capacity. This can be done by engaging in PA between 3-5 times per week.
St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
RECRUITINGFeasibility
Recruitment rate, withdrawal rate, adherence rate, and data completion rate
Time frame: 13 weeks
Acceptability
Responses to an exit survey
Time frame: 13 weeks
Acceptability
Responses to semi-structured qualitative interviews
Time frame: 13 weeks
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17
This is a semi-structured interview that has been well-validated in measuring the presence and severity of depression. This scale will be administered at baseline, at the end of the intervention phase, and at the last follow-up assessment. Scores range from 0 to 52. A decrease in total scores is defined as improvement in depressive symptoms.
Time frame: 13 weeks
Patient Health Questionnaire-9
This scale is a self-rated measure of depressive symptom severity over the past two weeks. This scale will be administered at baseline, at the end of the intervention phase, and at the last follow-up assessment. Scores range from 0 to 27. A decrease in total scores is defined as improvement in depressive symptoms.
Time frame: 13 weeks
General Anxiety Disorder-7
This scale is a self-rated measure of anxiety symptom severity over the past two weeks. This scale will be administered at baseline, at the end of the intervention phase, and at the last follow-up assessment. Scores range from 0 to 21. A decrease in total scores is defined as improvement in anxiety symptoms.
Time frame: 13 weeks
World Health Organization - Five Well-Being Index
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This scale is a self-rated measure of well-being over the past two weeks. This scale will be modified for weekly administration. The sum of scores from the five items will be multiplied by 4, representing the participant's perceived quality of life as a percentage. Higher scores denote higher quality of life.
Time frame: 13 weeks