Efficacy of an Exercise Intervention to Decrease Depressive Symptoms in Veterans With Hepatitis C

Portland VA Medical Center

Status

Completed

Conditions

Hepatitis C

Depression

Treatments

Other: Educational intervention

Behavioral: Home-based walking program

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT00643695

02101

Details and patient eligibility

About

In this study, depressed veterans with hepatitis C will be randomly assigned to the control group or to the exercise intervention group. The exercise intervention is designed to begin slowly for most participants and to progress within each participant's target heart rate range for moderate intensity exercise. The exercise intervention is a 12 week home based walking program. Ideally individuals will walk for 30 minutes, at a moderate intensity, a minimum of three times per week. However, the duration and relative intensity will be tailored for each individual.

Central Hypothesis Veterans who receive the exercise intervention will be significantly less symptomatic for depression than veterans in the control group.

Enrollment

14 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Male or female, age 18 or older
Documentation of positive hepatitis C status as indicated by a detectable HCV viral load by polymerase chain reaction
Mild to moderate depressive symptoms as evidenced by a BDI II score of ≥ 14
Able to read and understand English
Written/signed informed consent specific to this protocol
Being sedentary that is , less than 30 minutes of planned low to moderate intensity exercise 2 days per week

Exclusion criteria

Suicidal ideations
Current interferon therapy or planning to begin interferon therapy during the next three months
Diagnosis of Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Any medical condition, disorder, or medication that contraindicates participation in a mild to moderate intensity walking program