Exercise intervention improves the quality of life, anxiety, and depression of adolescent depression patients

Objective: To analyze the effects of exercise intervention on the quality of life, anxiety, and depression symptoms of adolescent depression patients. Methods: A total of 138 adolescent depression patients were recruited as the study cohort and randomly placed into the control group (n=69) or the exercise intervention group (n=69). The patients in the control group underwent sertraline and fluoxetine treatment. The patients in the exercise intervention group underwent an additional exercise intervention, including running, walking, and aerobic exercise, for a total of 4 cycles over 16 weeks. The patients' quality of life and quality of sleep were evaluated using the Inventory of Subjective Life Quality (ISLQ) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The patients' mental abilities were evaluated using the Relative Function Questionnaire for Youths (RFQY). The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) were used to assess their depression symptoms and anxiety. The Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP) was used to evaluate the patients' social functions. The anxiety, pressure, and stress symptoms were evaluated using the Youth Self-Report (YSR). The overall efficacy evaluation included the primary efficacy evaluation and the secondary efficacy evaluation, and they were scored using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI). Results: No significant differences existed in the ISLQ, PSQI, RFQY, HAMD, HAMA, PSP, YSR or CGI scores between the two groups before the intervention (P>0.05). However, the ISLQ, RFQY, and PSP scores in the two groups were all significantly higher, and the PSQI, HAMD, HAMA, YSR, and CGI scores were all much lower after the intervention (P<0.05). In addition, the ISLQ, RFQY, and PSP scores in the intervention group were all much higher than they were in the control group, and the PSQI, HAMD, HAMA, YSR, and CGI scores in the intervention group were all significantly lower than they were in the control group (P<0.05). In addition, the exercise intervention group had a much higher total effective rate than the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Exercise intervention significantly improves depressive symptoms, relieves anxiety, enhances the quality of life, and reduces patients' psychological stress and their related stress symptoms.

Automated summary

Exercise intervention significantly improves depressive symptoms, relieves anxiety, enhances the quality of life, and reduces patients' psychological stress and their related stress symptoms.