Exercise Training in Depressed Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors

Exercise Training in Depressed Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors

The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of successfully delivering moderate intensity aerobic exercise training to depressed traumatic brain injury subjects between one and three years after injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) alters the lives of many civilians and those involved in armed conflicts. Sequelae of TBI includes depression in up to 30% of cases. Appearance of depression after TBI impairs recovery and results in sub-optimal re-integration into society. Treatment of post TBI depression relies on oral medications, whose efficacy and side effect profile is sub-optimal. Exercise training is effective in spontaneous depression as a stand alone treatment and in conjunction with oral medications, and this may represent an alternative treatment option in the TBI population. Further, the pathophysiology of depression after TBI has yet to be examined with the full scientific rigor required. This project proposes to use exercise training of moderate intensity as a treatment for depression after TBI, while measuring biological markers as a way to investigate efficacy and provide insight into the pathophysiology.

Inclusion Criteria:

• CT brain with subdural hematoma, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and/or cortical contusion
• Glasgow outcome scale extended of 4 to 8
• speaks English
• Beck Depression Inventory -II score between 14 and 28
• sedentary life style
• one to three years after traumatic brain injury

Exclusion Criteria:

• prior history of brain process (example, stroke, brain tumor)
• aphasia
• psychosis, mania, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia
• pregnancy
• inability to exercise via cycles or treadmill