Effectiveness of a structured physical rehabilitation program on the physical fitness, mental health and pain for Chinese patients with major depressive disorders in Hong Kong – a randomized controlled trial with 9-month follow-up outcomes

Abstract

Purpose

The long-term and specific impacts on the physical and mental health for Chinese people with major depressive disorders (MDD) are not well-studied. The aim of the study is to investigate both short-and long-term effects of a structured physical rehabilitation program on the physical and mental health and pain for Chinese patients with MDD.

Methods

84 Chinese patients with MDD were randomized to intervention (n = 42) or control group (n = 42). Intervention group received a 12-week physical rehabilitation program and the control group with 12-week waiting period followed the same pathway as the intervention group afterwards for longitudinal analysis. Data were collected at baseline (T1), end of 12-week program (T2) and 9-month follow-up period (T3).

Results

Significant pre- and post-intervention improvements were noted in cardiopulmonary function, depressive symptoms, pain, body composition, muscle strength and flexibility for the intervention group. Although mild attenuation is noted from T2 to T3, subjects without exercise habit experienced significant decline in cardiopulmonary function, depressive symptoms and pain (p < 0.05) but not in those who developed exercise habit (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Structured physical rehabilitation program could improve physical and mental fitness and pain for Chinese MDD patients. Its effects could be sustained up to 9 months after cessation of the program provided that people establish their own exercise habit.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Exercise is an effective means of improving physical and mental health and pain for people with major depressive disorders (MDD).

• People with MDD have multiple reasons, both physically and psychosocially, for physical deconditioning and hurdles for exercise.

• Structured supervised exercise program can enhance physical and mental health and may likely enhance exercise compliance in this population.

Keywords:

• Chinese
• depressive disorder
• exercise
• pain
• physical fitness
• mental health

Trial registration

The study was registered in ClinicalTrail.gov on 27 February 2012, with reference number NCT01536756. URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01536756?term=NCT01536756&draw=2&rank=1.

Date of registration

The study was registered at 22 February 2012.

Study start date

The study was started at 27 February 2012.

Ethical approvals

The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committees of Kowloon Central Cluster, Kowloon East Cluster and Kowloon West Cluster of the Hospital Authority in Hong Kong, with reference number KC/KE-11-0189/ER-3 and KW/FR-12-006(48-13) respectively.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no financial involvement or affiliation with any organizations in the current study. The publication of this manuscript does not incur any conflict of interest with any organizations or institutions.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by KCC Research Grant 2011/12; grant number KCC/RC/G/1112-B05/R1002.