Braining- Aerobic Physical Activity as Add on Treatment in Bipolar Depression

Braining - A Randomized Controlled Study on Moderate-vigorous Aerobic Physical Exercise (PE) as an add-on Treatment in Bipolar Disorder. Effects on Recovery Time and Long-term Prevention From Bipolar Depression

Hypothesis: the hypothesis of the study is that aerobic physical exercise (PE) performed with the method Braining accelerates recovery from bipolar depression as well as improves psychiatric and somatic health in individuals with bipolar depression Method: a randomized controlled trial with 54 patients with bipolar depression are randomized to 12 weeks of either 1) supervised aerobic PE 3 times/week, 2) supervised relaxation/stretching 3 times/week or 3) information about PE but no supervised activity.

The hypothesis of this study is that adding aerobic PE might accelerate recovery, reduce negative side effects, improve mental wellbeing and function, increase long term prevention against relapsing bipolar episodes and reduce risk for complications such as cardiovascular disease in patients with bipolar disorder. Furthermore the study aims to evaluate if the effect of PE is linked to biological factors such as genetical factors, stress hormone levels, level of inflammation and other biological markers for health and disease that can be measured in standard blood samples. Patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder with ongoing depression are invited to participate in the study at regular visits in the psychiatric clinic. All study participants are medicated with mood stabilizers according to routine treatment and receive regular treatment for bipolar depression. After informed consent the study participants will be randomized to one of three groups 1) moderate to vigorous PE group training together with psychiatric staff three times per week 2) relaxing and stretching exercises group training together with psychiatric staff three times per week 3) information about PE and relaxation but no supervised PE or relaxation/stretching, for the 12 weeks of the study period. BEFORE: The first week consists of pre-test including interview regarding medical history and physical and psychiatric examination, ECG and blood samples. To measure level of physical activity the participants wear an activity monitor, Actiheart, that continuously registers physical activity for 7 days. The study participants will also fill out different questionnaires regarding general health and psychiatric symptoms. STUDY PERIOD: During the 12 weeks long study period the participants fill out an activity questionnaire and health questionnaires once a week. AFTER: during the twelfth week of the study period evaluation is being performed with repetition of the physical and psychiatric examination, blood samples and questionnaires. After 1, 2 and 3 years after the exercise period the questionnaires are repeated. Blood samples are repeated one year after the study period.

Bipolar Disorder, Bipolar Depression, Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder, Bipolar Affective Disorder; Remission in, Bipolar Affective Disorder, Currently Depressed, Moderate

Written and oral information about health benefits from physical exercise, provided by researcher on one occasion.

Moderate to vigorous physical exercise 30-45 minutes in a group setting led by psychiatric staff, 3 times per week for 12 weeks

Relaxing exercises (stretching, light yoga) 30-45 minutes in a group setting led by psychiatric staff, 3 times per week for 12 weeks

Self rated depressive symptoms. Minimum value 0, maximum value 27, where higher values indicate more depressive symptoms.

Self rated depressive symptoms. Minimum value 0, maximum value 27, where higher values indicate more depressive symptoms.

Self rated depressive symptoms. Minimum value 0, maximum value 27, where higher values indicate more depressive symptoms.

Self rated depressive symptoms. Minimum value 0, maximum value 27, where higher values indicate more depressive symptoms.

Self-assessment of symptoms of depression and hypomania/mania. 9 items for depression and 9 items for mania. Score 0-72. A score of over 10 on the depressive or manic/hypomanic subscale should give rise to suspicion of ongoing depression and hypomania/mania respectively. Scores of over 10 on both the depressive and manic/hypomanic scale at the same time give may indicate an affective mixed state.

Self-assessment of symptoms of depression and hypomania/mania. 9 items for depression and 9 items for mania. Score 0-72. A score of over 10 on the depressive or manic/hypomanic subscale should give rise to suspicion of ongoing depression and hypomania/mania respectively. Scores of over 10 on both the depressive and manic/hypomanic scale at the same time give may indicate an affective mixed state.

Self-assessment of symptoms of depression and hypomania/mania. 9 items for depression and 9 items for mania. Score 0-72. A score of over 10 on the depressive or manic/hypomanic subscale should give rise to suspicion of ongoing depression and hypomania/mania respectively. Scores of over 10 on both the depressive and manic/hypomanic scale at the same time give may indicate an affective mixed state.

Self-assessment of symptoms of depression and hypomania/mania. 9 items for depression and 9 items for mania. Score 0-72. A score of over 10 on the depressive or manic/hypomanic subscale should give rise to suspicion of ongoing depression and hypomania/mania respectively. Scores of over 10 on both the depressive and manic/hypomanic scale at the same time give may indicate an affective mixed state.

Interviewer-rated scale. Includes 11 items; seven are rated from 0 (absent) to 4; four from 0 to 8; total scores range from 0 to 60. A higher value indicates worse symptoms of hypomania/mania.

Interviewer-rated scale. Includes 11 items; seven are rated from 0 (absent) to 4; four from 0 to 8; total scores range from 0 to 60. A higher value indicates worse symptoms of hypomania/mania.

Interviewer-rated scale. Includes 11 items; seven are rated from 0 (absent) to 4; four from 0 to 8; total scores range from 0 to 60. A higher value indicates worse symptoms of hypomania/mania.

Interviewer-rated scale. Includes 11 items; seven are rated from 0 (absent) to 4; four from 0 to 8; total scores range from 0 to 60. A higher value indicates worse symptoms of hypomania/mania.

A one-item clinician assessed measure which evaluates the severity of psychopathology from 1 to 7, where 1 is 'normal' and 7 is 'among the most extremely ill patients' by the question "Considering your total clinical experience with this particular population, how mentally ill is the patient at this time?".

A one-item clinician assessed measure which evaluates the severity of psychopathology from 1 to 7, where 1 is 'normal' and 7 is 'among the most extremely ill patients' by the question "Considering your total clinical experience with this particular population, how mentally ill is the patient at this time?".

A one-item clinician assessed measure which evaluates the severity of psychopathology from 1 to 7, where 1 is 'normal' and 7 is 'among the most extremely ill patients' by the question "Considering your total clinical experience with this particular population, how mentally ill is the patient at this time?".

A one-item clinician assessed measure which evaluates the severity of psychopathology from 1 to 7, where 1 is 'normal' and 7 is 'among the most extremely ill patients' by the question "Considering your total clinical experience with this particular population, how mentally ill is the patient at this time?".

Self rated disability. Minimum value 0, maximum value 100, where higher values indicate more disability.

Self rated disability. Minimum value 0, maximum value 100, where higher values indicate more disability.

Self rated disability. Minimum value 0, maximum value 100, where higher values indicate more disability.

Self rated disability. Minimum value 0, maximum value 100, where higher values indicate more disability.

Self-assessment instrument for describing and valuing health. Defines health in terms of five dimensions: Mobility, Self-Care, Usual Activities, Pain/Discomfort, and Anxiety/Depression. Also included is an overall health rating on a 0-100 hash-marked, vertical visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). Assessment the scores from the descriptive component can be reported as a five digit number ranging from 11111 (full health) to 55555 (worst health). A number of methods exist for analysing these five digit profiles. However, frequently they are converted to a single utility index using country specific value sets. A higher index number indicates a poorer self-assessed health.

Self-assessment instrument for describing and valuing health. Defines health in terms of five dimensions: Mobility, Self-Care, Usual Activities, Pain/Discomfort, and Anxiety/Depression. Also included is an overall health rating on a 0-100 hash-marked, vertical visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). Assessment the scores from the descriptive component can be reported as a five digit number ranging from 11111 (full health) to 55555 (worst health). A number of methods exist for analysing these five digit profiles. However, frequently they are converted to a single utility index using country specific value sets. A higher index number indicates a poorer self-assessed health.

Self-assessment instrument for describing and valuing health. Defines health in terms of five dimensions: Mobility, Self-Care, Usual Activities, Pain/Discomfort, and Anxiety/Depression. Also included is an overall health rating on a 0-100 hash-marked, vertical visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). Assessment the scores from the descriptive component can be reported as a five digit number ranging from 11111 (full health) to 55555 (worst health). A number of methods exist for analysing these five digit profiles. However, frequently they are converted to a single utility index using country specific value sets. A higher index number indicates a poorer self-assessed health.

Self-assessment instrument for describing and valuing health. Defines health in terms of five dimensions: Mobility, Self-Care, Usual Activities, Pain/Discomfort, and Anxiety/Depression. Also included is an overall health rating on a 0-100 hash-marked, vertical visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). Assessment the scores from the descriptive component can be reported as a five digit number ranging from 11111 (full health) to 55555 (worst health). A number of methods exist for analysing these five digit profiles. However, frequently they are converted to a single utility index using country specific value sets. A higher index number indicates a poorer self-assessed health.

SRH is typically measured as a single-item, the most common wording of which is "In general, would you say your health is" with the response items "excellent," "very good," "good," "fair," or "poor."

SRH is typically measured as a single-item, the most common wording of which is "In general, would you say your health is" with the response items "excellent," "very good," "good," "fair," or "poor."

SRH is typically measured as a single-item, the most common wording of which is "In general, would you say your health is" with the response items "excellent," "very good," "good," "fair," or "poor."

SRH is typically measured as a single-item, the most common wording of which is "In general, would you say your health is" with the response items "excellent," "very good," "good," "fair," or "poor."

Self rated quality of life. Minimum value 0, maximum value 96, where higher values indicate higher quality of life satisfaction.

Self rated quality of life. Minimum value 0, maximum value 96, where higher values indicate higher quality of life satisfaction.

Self rated quality of life. Minimum value 0, maximum value 96, where higher values indicate higher quality of life satisfaction.

Self rated quality of life. Minimum value 0, maximum value 96, where higher values indicate higher quality of life satisfaction.

Inclusion Criteria: Patients at Psychiatry Southwest, Karolinska University Hospital Region Stockholm Sweden. Bipolar disorder Ongoing depression Exclusion Criteria: Severe psychiatric disorder such as mania and psychosis Medical conditions such as heart- and lung diseases where PE is contraindicated. Unable to understand written and spoken Swedish language.