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The SEEDS study examined the antidepressant efficacy of combining sertraline with physical exercise in elderly patients with major depression. Factors predicting higher chances of remission in the experimental group were identified, including contextual factors and primary care physicians' opinions.
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The Research Question To examine which patient- and context-related factors impact the antidepressant efficacy of exercise in the real clinical world, among elderly patients suffering from major depression
What the Researchers Did • The SEEDS study compared the antidepressant efficacy of sertraline plus physical exercise (24 weeks, 3 times per week) vs. sertraline alone. The setting was a consultation liaison program for Primary Care • In a post-hoc analysis, we identified which factors predicted higher chances of remission in the experimental group; contextual factors and PCPs opinions were also explored
What the Researchers Found • The ideal candidate to receive sertraline plus exercise is a patient who is older than 75, has retained a good aerobic fitness, displays psychomotor retardation but not severe anxiety. • A long standing consultation liaison program is important for the recruitment and follow up of patients: PCPs expressed very favorable views re. adding exercise as an antidepressant
What This Means for Clinical Practice • Older patients with major depression can be safely and effectively treated with a combination of structured physical exercise and antidepressant drugs. The feasibility of this intervention depends on the level of collaboration between PCPs and other specialists. Moreover, the effectiveness against depression is particularly high among selected patients.
