Impact of a structured, group-based running programme on clinical, cognitive and social function in youth and adults with complex mood disorders: a 12-week pilot study

Abstract

BackgroundIndividuals with mood disorders often report lingering health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and social and cognitive impairments even after mood symptoms have improved. Exercise programmes improve mood symptoms in patients, but whether exercise improves functional outcomes in patients with difficult-to-treat mood disorders remains unknown.DesignWe evaluated the impact of a 12-week structured running programme on cognitive, social and quality-of-life outcomes in participants with difficult-to-treat mood disorders.MethodsIn a prospective, open-label study, patients referred to the St Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton Team Unbreakable running programme for youth and adults with mood disorders completed a comprehensive assessment battery before and after the 12-week exercise intervention.ResultsWe collected preintervention and postintervention data from 18 participants who improved on the general health, vitality, role of emotions, social functioning and mental health (all p≤0.01) HRQOL subscales. Performance improved on cognitive tests that assessed working memory and processing speed (p≤0.04); there were no improvements in complex executive functioning tasks. Regression analyses indicated that younger age, shorter illness duration and reduced bodily pain predicted social and cognitive outcomes.ConclusionParticipation in a group-based, structured running programme was associated with improved HRQOL and social and cognitive function.

Treatments for objective and subjective cognitive functioning in young people with depression: Systematic review of current evidence

“…Three studies investigated the impact of exercise on objective cognitive function, including aerobic exercise programs (Keating et al, 2019; Olson et al, 2017) and high‐intensity interval training (Lee et al, 2019). A single‐arm trial showed that a 12‐week structured running group, Team Unbreakable, which occurred twice per week and gradually increased to a distance of 5 km, produced significant improvement in two tasks of processing speed and attention capacity, out of 18 cognitive tasks in total (Keating et al, 2019).…”

“…Three studies investigated the impact of exercise on objective cognitive function, including aerobic exercise programs (Keating et al, 2019; Olson et al, 2017) and high‐intensity interval training (Lee et al, 2019). A single‐arm trial showed that a 12‐week structured running group, Team Unbreakable, which occurred twice per week and gradually increased to a distance of 5 km, produced significant improvement in two tasks of processing speed and attention capacity, out of 18 cognitive tasks in total (Keating et al, 2019). A second RCT showed that an 8‐week aerobic exercise intervention, consisting of three 30–45‐min training sessions per week maintained at moderate intensity, produced significantly large improvements in reaction time ( η = 0.13), and an increase in N2 amplitude ( η = 0.13) reflecting greater cognitive control processes, compared to placebo exercise (i.e.…”

“…Of the 12 studies reviewed, only four (33.3%) reported on functional outcomes (Table S1). Three of these studies investigated a behavioural treatment (Bryce et al, 2020; Keating et al, 2019; Motter et al, 2019), each revealing moderate improvements in functioning over the treatment period. Specifically, individuals who undertook 8 weeks of executive functioning/processing speed or verbal training exercises showed moderate improvements in global functioning (Cohen's d = 0.78) measured by the Sheehan Disability Scale (Motter et al, 2019).…”

“…Specifically, individuals who undertook 8 weeks of executive functioning/processing speed or verbal training exercises showed moderate improvements in global functioning (Cohen's d = 0.78) measured by the Sheehan Disability Scale (Motter et al, 2019). Subjective social functioning, as measured by the 36‐item Short Form Survey (SF‐36) improved over a 12‐week structured running program (Keating et al, 2019). A medium effect size increase in subjective functioning (Cohen's d = 0.67) was observed over 3 weeks after receiving a psychoeducational fact sheet on cognitive self‐management strategies (Bryce et al, 2020).…”

“…Of the 12 studies reviewed, only four (33.3%) reported on functional outcomes (Table S1). Three of these studies investigated a behavioural treatment (Bryce et al, 2020;Keating et al, (Keating et al, 2019). A medium effect size increase in subjective functioning (Cohen's d = 0.67) was observed over 3 weeks after receiving a psychoeducational fact sheet on cognitive self-management strategies (Bryce et al, 2020).…”