Exercise and Epstein's TARGET for treatment of depressive symptoms: A randomized study

Abstract

This study was designed with a dual goal: (1) to compare the change in the scores of depressive symptoms by means of the implementation of three intervention programs in comparison to a control group: a) based on Epstein's TARGET (ET), b) without TARGET strategies (NET), and c) under conditions of active exercise (AE); and (2) to analyze whether the Self-determination Index (SDI) predicts the reduction of depressive symptoms. The participants (N = 106; 68 females and 38 males), aged between 18-30 years, were randomly assigned to one of the groups. Each treatment lasted 8 weeks (3 hours/week). Of the ET participants, 59.26% showed a therapeutic response, defined as a 50% reduction in the reference score, versus 25.93% for the NET, 19.23% for the AE, and 3.84% for the control group. After six months, the ET group increased their percentage of therapeutic response by slightly more than 10%, which did not occur in the other groups. SDI predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms, and our findings indicate that TARGET strategies can have a direct effect on depressive symptoms at the time of intervention and an indirect effect at a later stage due to their impact on future levels of physical activity.

Physical activity and exercise in youth mental health promotion: a scoping review

“…Vigorous-intensity intervention had no effect on psychological symptoms and distress in university students, compared with no intervention or PMR 50. Situational motivation increased following an intervention of unspecified intensity in university students, compared with stretching 46…”

“…Online supplementary table 1 shows that 4 trials were not randomised,35–38 1 was a cross-over RCT,39 5 were cluster RCTs40–44 and 20 were RCTs. Eight studies included young people with elevated mental disorder symptoms at baseline, including anxiety sensitivity,45 anxiety or depression symptoms,37–39 46 47 or high substance use,48 49 and the remaining 22 involved young people without mental health symptoms. Figure 2 shows the distribution of mental health outcomes studied.…”

“…Two studies did not provide sufficient information to assess intervention intensity, and neither showed reductions in depression symptoms 36 46…”

“…The range of mental health and quality-of-life outcomes examined may indicate the broad applicability of PA/exercise as an intervention for emerging mental health problems in young people. Of the eight included studies that recruited participants on the basis of elevated symptoms of mental health disorder at baseline, five demonstrated the effect of PA/exercise interventions in reducing symptoms of depression38 39 46 47 and high substance use,49 indicating the potential of PA/exercise as an indicated or targeted prevention strategy.…”

Physical activity, approach-avoidance temperament and depressive symptoms

“…Negative consequences of depressive symptoms on individuals have led many researchers to investigate their development, the factors that influence them, and ways to prevent or mitigate their effects. Different preventive programs have been conducted to moderate this important public health problem, and some have showed success in the reduction of depressive symptoms, particularly those who used physical activity (Adamson, Ensari, & Motl, 2015;Cecchini-Estrada, Mendez-Gimenez, Cecchini, Moulton, & Rodriguez, 2015;Vallance, et al, 2011). However, physical activity intensity seems to be an important element to consider.…”