Depressed Adolescents Treated With Exercise (The DATE Study)

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a disabling form of depression in which sadness and
inability to feel pleasure prevent people from living their normal lives. MDD is common in
adolescents, and depression experienced early in life can lead to long-term psychological
and social impairment or suicide. Studies of depressed adults show that regular aerobic
exercise can result in recovery from mild to moderate MDD. Studies also show that
adolescents who exercise regularly have lower rates of depression, but no randomized,
controlled studies have examined exercise as a treatment for depression in adolescents. This
study will compare a standardized aerobic exercise routine to a stretching control group to
determine whether aerobic exercise is an effective treatment for MDD in adolescents.

Participation in this study will last 12 weeks, with follow-up interviews taking place after
6 and 12 months. Participants will first undergo screening procedures, during which
adolescent participants and their parents will complete interviews and questionnaires about
the adolescent's mood and behavior. Participants will also need to provide physician-written
letters confirming that they are healthy enough to participate in the exercise program.
After screening, participants will be randomly assigned to either an exercise program or a
stretching program. At the first study visit, a course of exercise or stretching will be set
for each participant. Participants in both groups will spend the same amount of time doing
physical activity. They will complete three to four exercise or stretching sessions per week
for 12 weeks, with each session lasting 20 to 30 minutes. Participants will be able to
complete some sessions at home, but they will need to return to the study exercise center
for weekly study visits. At these study visits, participants will be weighed to determine if
the level of exercise needs to be adjusted, and they will complete questionnaires about
their depression. Over the course of the study, participants will wear a wrist-watch-like
device called an Actical, which will monitor energy use. Participants will also undergo
heart rate monitoring while exercising and complete an exercise log online. A set of
questionnaires and interviews similar to those at screening will also be repeated at 6- and
12-month follow-ups.