Zero-time Exercise for Depression

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Status

Completed

Conditions

Depression

Treatments

Behavioral: Zero-time Exercise

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT03811327

PSY005

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a new lifestyle-integrated exercise, viz. Zero-time Exercise (ZTEx), for the management of depressive symptoms in Chinese adults in Hong Kong. ZTEx refers to the integration of simple strength- and stamina-enhancing physical activity into daily life, which can be done anytime, anywhere and by anyone. Depression is often accompanied by a tendency to sedentary behaviours and sleep disturbances, and sedentary lifestyles is associated with depression. The conventional psychological treatment approach for depression, viz. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), emphasises the relationship between activity and mood. One of the treatment components in CBT for depression, viz. Behavioural Activation (BA), aims to promote activity engagement that are reinforcing and consistent with the long-term goals in reducing sedentary behaviour and increasing physical activity. The simple and brief ZTEx uses a foot-in-the-door approach to initiate simple behaviour change as an entry-level step for facilitating BA for participants with depression. A pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) has shown some evidence on the effectiveness of ZTEx on improving insomnia. However, investigators have found no RCT on the effectiveness of ZTEx for the management of depressive symptoms.

Enrollment

14 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 65 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Hong Kong residents aged 18-65 years
Cantonese language fluency
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score ≥ 10 and ≤ 14; and
Willingness to provide informed consent and comply with the trial protocol.

Exclusion criteria

Pregnancy;
Have high levels of suicidal ideation (referral information to professional services will be provided);
Unstable psychotropic drugs within 2 weeks before study entry and throughout the treatment phase;
Current involvement in psychotherapy for depression;
Having unsafe conditions and are not recommended for exercising by physicians; and
Major psychiatric, medical or neurocognitive disorders that would make participation infeasible or interfere with the adherence to physical exercising.