Effect of exercise on depression severity in older people:systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlledtrials

• Published in: British journal of psychiatry 2012-09, Vol.201 (3), p.180-185
• Main Authors: Bridle, Christopher, Spanjers, Kathleen, Patel, Shilpa, Atherton, Nicola M, Lamb, Sarah E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Aging; Bias; Exercise; Fitness training programs; Medical diagnosis; Mental depression; Meta-analysis; Older people; Physical fitness; Prescribing; Psychiatry; Sensitivity analysis; Severity; Software; Systematic review
• ISSN: 0007-1250; 1472-1465
• DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.111.095174

BackgroundThe prevelance of depression in older people is high, treatment isinadequate, it creates a substantial burden and is a public healthpriority for which exercise has been proposed as a therapeuticstrategy.AimsTo estimate the effect of exercise on depressive symptoms among olderpeople, and assess whether treatment effect varies depending on thedepression criteria used to determine participant eligibility.MethodSystematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials ofexercise for depression in older people.ResultsNine trials met the inclusion criteria and seven were meta-analysed.Exercise was associated with significantly lower depression severity(standardised mean difference (SMD) =–0.34, 95% CI –0.52 to –0.17),irrespective of whether participant eligibility was determined byclinical diagnosis (SMD =–0.38, 95% CI –0.67 to –0.10) or symptomchecklist (SMD =–0.34, 95% CI –0.62 to –0.06). Results remainedsignificant in sensitivity analyses.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that, for older people who present with clinicallymeaningful symptoms of depression, prescribing structured exercisetailored to individual ability will reduce depression severity.