Modality of exercise influences rate of decrease in depression for cancer survivors with elevated depressive symptomatology

Levin, Gregory, Greenwood, Kenneth, and Newton, Robert (2015) Modality of exercise influences rate of decrease in depression for cancer survivors with elevated depressive symptomatology. Psycho-Oncology, 24 (Supplement 2). J-4. pp. 63-64.

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Abstract

Background/purpose: This feasibility study aimed to identify whether different types of exercise provide similar reductions in depression symptoms to cancer survivors with elevated depression, compared to control.

Methods: 32 participants (58.9± 9.4 years) were allocated to a 12-week clinic-based, supervised exercise group (n =10), an unsupervised, home-based exercise group (n =8), or a usual care control group (n =14). The aerobic sessions weekly. Home-based participants were provided with printed material about benefits of exercise and were encouraged to complete 150 min of exercise weekly. Controls received no exercise or printed material and were encouraged tomaintain usual activity.

Results: Both home-based (6.4 ± 5.3 to 2.2 ± 2.9, p = .006) and supervised (6.9 ± 4.2 to 4.0 ± 2.4, p = .021) interventions effectively reduced HADS-D scores compared to control (7.2 ± 2.5 to 7.7 ± 3.6). Not only did the home-based group decrease depression to a greater extent but also more rapidly. HADS-D scores at week 6 were 3.4 ± 3.5 and 6.1 ± 4.2 for the home-based and supervised groups, respectively (d = 0.50).

Conclusions: The rate of exercise-related reductions in depression was influenced by the modality of exercise. Psychological mechanisms such as mastery and distraction may have accounted for initial rapid improvements in the home-based group. However, increasing the duration of the programme appeared to diminish the favourable short-term response to self-managed exercise. Research Implications: The findings of this research suggest that exercise for depression in cancer is beneficial. However, more information is required to understand the optimal prescriptive factors that influence mood. The shift in rate of response should be examined in more detail including adherence. As this was a feasibility study, a larger randomised trial should be conducted to confirm the findings. Practice Implications: Comorbid depression negatively impacts on the quality of life of cancer survivors. Rates of clinically disruptive depression are reportedly three times higher than the noncancer population. Therefore, there is a need to treat or manage depression. Exercise appears to be an effective alternative to pharmacotherapy or psychological counselling. This additional therapy may be more suitable for some patients.

Item ID: 40607
Item Type: Article (Abstract)
ISSN: 1099-1611
Additional Information:

Abstracts of the 2015 World Congress of Psych-Oncology, 28 July - 1 August 2015, Washington, DC, USA

Date Deposited: 24 Sep 2015 02:57
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1112 Oncology and Carcinogenesis > 111204 Cancer Therapy (excl Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy) @ 20%
11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1106 Human Movement and Sports Science > 110602 Exercise Physiology @ 20%
17 PSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES > 1701 Psychology > 170106 Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology @ 60%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9201 Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) > 920102 Cancer and Related Disorders @ 50%
92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920410 Mental Health @ 50%
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