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The Effects of Aerobic Exercise and Mindful Breathing on Individuals With Major Depressive Disorder in Saudi Arabia

NCT07625163 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 60

Last updated 2026-06-04

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The goal of this Randomized Clinical Trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of aerobic exercise (AE) and mindful breathing (MB) on depressive symptom severity and quality of life (QoL), in adults with MDD. The main question is: Does aerobic exercise and mindful breathing delivery reduce depressive symptom severity and improve quality of life more effectively than standard psychiatric care? The aims to answer are:

1. To determine the effect of aerobic exercise interventions on depressive symptoms of individuals diagnosed with MDD.
2. To determine the effect of aerobic exercise interventions on health-related quality of life among individuals diagnosed with MDD.
3. To determine the effect of mindful breathing exercises on depressive symptoms among individuals diagnosed with MDD.
4. To determine the effect of the mindful breathing exercise intervention on quality of life amongst individuals diagnosed with MDD.

Participants will be randomized into three groups:

1. 45 minutes of moderate AE (60-75% HRR);
2. 15 minutes of guided mindful breathing (6 breaths/minute);
3. a waitlist control receiving standard care. \*Interventions will occur three times a week for 16 weeks.

Conditions

  • Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Interventions

OTHER

Aerobic exercise

Aerobic or cardiovascular exercise is characterized by activities that engage large muscle groups, including walking, jogging, or cycling. Regular aerobic exercise can improve cardiovascular health, endurance, and overall fitness.

OTHER

Mindful Breathing

Mindful breathing can include diaphragmatic breathing, deep breathing, and controlled breathing techniques, which focus on regulating and optimizing the process of inhalation and exhalation. These techniques enhance respiratory function, increase lung capacity, and promote relaxation by activating the parasympathetic nervous system. Therefore, they have been used in various therapeutic contexts to manage stress, anxiety, and mood disorders, including MDD, by regulating emotions and the stress response.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Pretoria

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Saad Bin Muaythir, Master

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-06-15
Primary Completion
2026-10-14
Completion
2026-11-14

Countries

  • Saudi Arabia

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07625163 on ClinicalTrials.gov