RESISTance Exercise for Depression Trial

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Major Depressive Disorder

In brief

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and current treatments are ineffective for many people. This trial will investigate the efficacy of a 16-week high vs low dose resistance exercise training program for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in 200 adults.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06110897

Run by

University of Wisconsin, Madison

People needed

200

Starts

2024-01-01

Expected to finish

2029-10-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-05-05

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Be diagnosed with DSM-5 MDD, confirmed via Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID).
• Have current depressive symptoms of at least mild severity defined by the Hamilton Rating Scale of Depression 17 greater than or equal to 8 (HAMD; using the GRID-HAMD evaluated by trained, masked raters)
• Be ages 18-65
• EITHER not taking any mental health medications or seeking other mental health treatment (e.g., behavioral, psychological) OR be on a stable mental health medication and/or treatment regimen for the past 8 weeks, and intend to maintain that regimen for the duration of the study
• Safe to exercise based on physical activity screening questions or physician clearance
• Willing to be randomized to either condition
• have a Smartphone

You may not qualify if…

• Currently pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant during the trial
• Class III+ obesity
• Diagnosed with lifetime or current Psychosis, Mania, or Bipolar Disorder, via the SCID
• Diagnosed with current Substance Use Disorder, via the SCID
• Active suicidal ideation with specific plan and intent ('5' score on Suicidal Ideation from Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale), which would necessitate immediate emergent care
• Exhibit behavioral disturbance (e.g., aggression, mild-moderate cognitive impairment) that would significantly interfere with study participation, as assessed by clinical research personnel
• Currently meets resistance exercise recommendations (2 days per week) for the last 8 weeks
• Self-reporting a concussion/traumatic brain injury within the last 3 months
• Having cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled hypertension, or uncontrolled diabetes

Where it is running

• University of Wisconsin - Madison — Madison, Wisconsin, United States (enrolling)
• Iowa State University — Ames, Iowa, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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