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TREAD: TReatment with Exercise Augmentation for Depression: study rationale and design
Madhukar H Trivedi1, Tracy L Greer, Bruce D Grannemann
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA. madhukar.trivedi@utsouthwestern.edu
Clinical Trials (London, England)
|August 10, 2006
Summary
Exercise may effectively augment antidepressant treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). The TREAD study investigates aerobic exercise as an add-on therapy for patients with persistent MDD symptoms, aiming to improve treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Many patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) do not achieve full symptom remission with standard antidepressant medication.
- Exercise shows promise in reducing depressive symptoms, but its role as an augmentation strategy in controlled trials for MDD is underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- The Treatment with Exercise Augmentation for Depression (TREAD) study is a randomized controlled trial.
- It assesses the efficacy of two aerobic exercise dosages as an augmentation strategy for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment in MDD patients.
Main Methods:
- The TREAD study involves 12 weeks of treatment followed by a 12-week follow-up period.
- Primary outcome is the change in depressive symptoms, with secondary assessments of psychosocial function and treatment adherence.
- The design addresses challenges in patient-oriented research, including augmentation strategies, non-pharmacological interventions, and adherence programs.
Main Results:
- This paper details the rationale and design of the TREAD study.
- It highlights the integration of augmentation strategies, non-pharmacological treatments, and robust trial design.
- Implementation of an exercise adherence program is also discussed.
Conclusions:
- The TREAD study is designed to minimize bias and enhance validity in research on exercise for mental health.
- A multidisciplinary team with expertise in depression and exercise physiology facilitates the study.
- This rigorous approach aims to provide reliable evidence on exercise as an MDD augmentation strategy.