Lifestyle Medicine for Depression

Lifestyle Medicine for Depression: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

This study will examine the feasibility and efficacy of lifestyle medicine for the management of depression in Chinese adult population. The main components of lifestyle intervention typically include physical activity, diet, relaxation/mindfulness, and sleep. While lifestyle medicine has been recognized for centuries as a means to improve physical health, the field of lifestyle medicine in the context of mental health is still in its infancy. In the existing literature, there is increasing evidence demonstrating the efficacy of individual components of lifestyle medicine (e.g, physical activities and sleep) on depression. However, there is very limited research on the effectiveness of an integration of multiple lifestyle adjustments on depression.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Hong Kong residents aged ≥ 18 years;
2. Cantonese language fluency;
3. Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score ≥ 10; and
4. Willingness to provide informed consent and comply with the trial protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnancy;
2. Have suicidal ideation based on Beck Depression inventory (BDI-II) Item 9 score ≥ 2 (referral information to professional services will be provided to those who endorsed items on suicidal ideation);
3. Using medication or psychotherapy for depression;
4. Having unsafe conditions and are not recommended for exercising or a change in diet by physicians; and
5. Have major psychiatric, medical or neurocognitive disorders that make participation infeasible or interfere with the adherence to the lifestyle modification.