Effects of Acute Exercise on Mood and Well-Being in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

TLDR

This study was designed to determine whether a single bout of moderate‑intensity aerobic exercise would improve mood and well‑being in 40 individuals receiving treatment for major depressive disorder. Participants were randomly assigned to 30 minutes of moderate‑intensity aerobic exercise or quiet rest, and mood was assessed with the Profile of Mood States and Subjective Exercise Experiences Scale before and at 5, 30, and 60 minutes after the intervention. Both groups experienced reductions in psychological distress, depression, confusion, fatigue, tension, and anger, but only the exercise group showed a significant increase in positive well‑being and vigor, indicating exercise has a greater effect on positively valenced states.

Abstract

Purpose: This study was designed to determine if a single bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise would improve mood and well-being in 40 (15 male, 25 female) individuals who were receiving treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: All participants were randomly assigned to exercise at 60–70% of age-predicted maximal heart rate for 30 min or to a 30-min period of quiet rest. Participants completed both the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and Subjective Exercise Experiences Scale (SEES) as indicators of mood 5 min before, and 5, 30, and 60 min following their experimental condition. Results: Both groups reported similar reductions in measures of psychological distress, depression, confusion, fatigue, tension, and anger. Only the exercise group, however, reported a significant increase in positive well-being and vigor scores. Conclusion: Although 30 min of either moderate-intensity treadmill exercise or quiet rest is sufficient to improve the mood and well-being of patients with MDD, exercise appears to have a greater effect on the positively valenced states measured.