| Type of Document |
Dissertation |
| Author |
Abt, Kristie Lynne
|
| Author's Email Address |
klabt@pitt.edu |
| URN |
etd-07292005-141655 |
| Title |
The Effects of a Group Exercise Intervention in the Adjunctive Treatment of Clinical Depression |
| Degree |
Doctor of Philosophy |
| Program |
Health, Physical, and Recreation Education |
| School |
School of Education |
| Advisory Committee |
| Advisor Name |
Title |
| Fredric L. Goss, PhD |
Committee Chair |
| Bruce S. Rabin, MD, PhD |
Committee Member |
| Elizabeth Nagle-Stilley, PhD |
Committee Member |
| Kathleen I. Sward, PhD |
Committee Member |
| Michael Thase, MD |
Committee Member |
| Richard D. Day, PhD |
Committee Member |
| Robert J. Robertson, PhD |
Committee Member |
|
| Keywords |
- social contact
- exercise
- depression
|
| Date of Defense |
2005-07-25 |
| Availability |
unrestricted |
Abstract
The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the influence of a 6-week group exercise intervention in the adjunctive treatment of depression. A total of thirty-one subjects were recruited from WPIC’s Bellefield Clinic of the Adult Service Line and the surrounding community. Subjects were between the ages of 25 and 60 years, had a diagnosis of depression (dysthymic disorder, major depressive disorder, depressive disorder not otherwise specified, or bipolar disorder) according to the DSM-IV by a licensed therapist, and were enrolled in a standardized outpatient treatment program consisting of antidepressant medication and psychotherapy. Subjects were randomly assigned to either a 6-week exercise group intervention or a social control group (stress coping intervention). Groups were matched for group exposure, meeting for one hour, two nights a week. The IDS-SR was used to assess changes in depressive symptoms as a result of the intervention at 0 and 6-weeks. Additionally, the Q-LES-Q and the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale were used to assess changes in quality of life and feelings of loneliness, respectively, as a result of the intervention at 0 and 6-weeks. The main hypothesis was that subjects randomized to the group exercise intervention would experience a significant decrease in depressive symptoms, as assessed by the IDS-SR, and a significant increase in quality of life, as assessed by the Q-LES-Q, when compared to the social control group. An additional hypothesis was that subjects in the group exercise intervention and the social control group would experience a significant and equal decrease in feelings of loneliness as assessed by the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. Statistical analysis included separate two-way (group x time) repeated measures ANOVA to determine between and within group mean differences on the IDS-SR, Q-LES-Q, and the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. Results indicated that subjects in the group exercise intervention and the social control group experienced a decrease in symptoms of depression, whereas no significant differences in either group for quality of life or feelings of loneliness were found. Results were the same for the intent-to-treat analysis and the non-intent-to-treat analysis. It was concluded that social interaction may have contributed to the positive findings concerning symptoms of depression.
|
| Files |
| Filename |
Size |
Approximate Download Time
(Hours:Minutes:Seconds)
|
| 28.8 Modem |
56K Modem |
ISDN (64 Kb) |
ISDN (128 Kb) |
Higher-speed Access |
| |
AbtKristieUpdated072905.pdf |
1.53 Mb |
00:07:04 |
00:03:38 |
00:03:10 |
00:01:35 |
00:00:08 |
|
