Evaluation of Depression In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Summary

Background:

Several clinical studies show high rates of anxiety and depressive disorders in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), that suggest common underlying pathogenetic mechanisms of COPD and depressive disorders. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of aerobic exercise, proposed in the context of pulmonary rehabilitation, in a sample of COPD depressed patients without psychopharmacological treatment, through the correlation of some psychopathological variables and physical/pneumological parameters.

Methods:

The investigators have designed an observational longitudinal trial. The trial will be prospective 6-weeks randomized clinical study to evaluate the impact of aerobic exercise on depressive symptoms in 154 patient affected by COPD and depression, assessed by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). The investigators will also monitor anxiety, quality of life and neurocognitive function.

Outcome measures:

The investigators compare the variation of HDRS total score, as primary outcome measure, in two groups (A, B) of COPD depressed patients matched for: COPD status; depressive status; age; gender. Only the participants randomized in study group A will receive a 6-weeks aerobic exercise intervention.

Statistical analysis:

All tests are two-tailed and a p value 0.05 was considered significant. The difference between the two groups will be evaluated with Student's T test for normally distributed data, and with Mann-Whitney's U test, for those with not normal distribution. The normality of distribution will be evaluated with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Any correlations among the variables under evaluation will be assessed by Spearman r correlation. Variables will be compared using the Chi-squared test or Fisher exact test for categorical variables.

Discussion:

There is a strong correlation between physical activity and mental health. Several data have suggested that aerobic exercise shows significant effects, comparable to pharmacotherapy and to psychotherapy, on reducing depressive symptomatology. The goal of our study is to propose an effective intervention to reduce the risk of severe depression in this special population, evaluating the variation of HDRS total score after the aerobic exercise intervention.

Conditions

• Depression in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Interventions

OTHER

Aerobic Exercise

Aerobic exercise intervention consists of lower (treadmill and cyclette) and upper arts (arm ergometer Davenbike®) training, as well as calisthenic exercises with increasing intensity from a minimum of 80% to a maximum workload for lower arts in a minimum time.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Hospital, Catania

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Eugenio Aguglia, Prof. · UOPI of psychiatry - Department of clinical and molecular biomedicine - AOU Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele. Via S. Sofia, 78 - 95124 Catania, Italy

• Giuseppe Minutolo, MD, PhD · UOPI of psychiatry - Department of clinical and molecular biomedicine - AOU Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele. Via S. Sofia, 78 - 95124 Catania, Italy

• Giuseppe Catalfo, MD · UOPI of psychiatry - Department of clinical and molecular biomedicine - AOU Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele. Via S. Sofia, 78 - 95124 Catania, Italy

• Francesca Magnano S. Lio, MD · UOPI of psychiatry - Department of clinical and molecular biomedicine - AOU Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele. Via S. Sofia, 78 - 95124 Catania, Italy

• Nunzio Crimi, Prof. · Pulmonary Rehabilitation Clinic - Department of clinical and molecular biomedicine - AOU Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele. Via S. Sofia, 78 - 95124 Catania, Italy

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

40 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2014-11-30

Primary Completion

2015-05-31

Completion

2015-11-30