Effect of 12 Weeks Aerobic Exercises Verses Antidepressant Medication in Young Adult Males Diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder

Abstract

This study intends to compare the effectiveness of a combination of 12 weeks of aerobic exercises and antidepressant medication with 12 weeks of antidepressant medication alone. 100 young adult males between the age group 18-39, diagnosed with major depressive disorder under the ICD 10 criteria ,were recruited for the study.50 subjects each were randomly assigned into either an experimental or a control group ,after baseline data were procured using the 17- item Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS17). The experimental group underwent 12 weeks of aerobic exercises along with their regular antidepressant medication and the control group had only antidepressant medication as intervention. Our objective was to investigate weather the mean change in (HDRS17) scores from baseline was greater after 12 weeks of aerobic exercise when compared with antidepressant medication alone. This study concluded that combination of aerobic exercise along with antidepressant medication is more effective than antidepressant medication alone in the treatment of major depressive disorders in young adult males.

Key words - major depressive disorder, aerobic exercise, antidepressants, 17- item Hamilton depression rating scale