The Effect of Exercise on Preventing Depression in Young People
Subthreshold Depression, Exercise, Major Depression
About this trial
This is an interventional prevention trial for Subthreshold Depression focused on measuring Subthreshold depression, aerobic exercise, Major depression, Intervention
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- There are two or more Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM)-5 depressive symptoms, including at least one core symptom.
- Any of the core symptoms of subclinical depressive syndrome lasts at least one week, with symptom manifestation ≥50% of the time.
- CES-DC ≥16 points, Altman Self-Rated Mania Scale (ASRM) < 13 points.
- 10~17 years old.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Current or past DSM-5 criteria for major depressive disorder,Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia.
- With moderate or above suicide risk determined by Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) (who will be referred to psychologist and/or psychiatrist for follow-up intervention)
- Musculoskeletal problems such as arthritis, gout, osteoporosis, or back, hip or knee pain that may interfere with exercising
- A history of organic brain disease or brain trauma
- Alcohol, drug or other psychoactive substance abuse or dependence
- Currently enrolled in another exercise study
- Any condition that would make exercise unsafe or unwise
- Taking medication that interferes with heart rate response to exercise such as beta blockers
Sites / Locations
- The first Huaiji middle schoolRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Placebo Comparator
Aerobic Exercise
Psycho-education
The whole exercise lasts for 12 months, consisted of 6-month supervised exercise and 6-month maintenance period. It is moderate -intensity exercise (60-80% Maximum heart rate), each time last for 30 mins (plus 10-minutes for warm-up and cool-down), 3-4 times a week, for the first six months, which will be supervised in person by physical educators and/or physical professionals. In the maintenance period, participants are asked to exercise at the same intensity and frequency, but will not be supervised in person by physical educators/professionals. They will receive reminder on a weekly basis and their physical activities be recorded by accelerometer. Types of exercise will be chosen according to individual school's facility and feasibility, including jogging, fast walking, badminton, running, football etc.
It consists of 6 sections of psycho-education, with topics covering mood regulations and mental well-being. Approximately 1 section in every two months.