Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40892783›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Improving adherence to physical activity in treatment-resistant depression: Protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial of a remotely delivered program.

Vanessa K Tassone, Danika A Quesnel, Karisa Parkington, Alice Rueda, Josh Martin, Gyu Hee Lee, Alyssa Teixeira, Melissa L deJonge, Wendy Lou, David Wiljer and 3 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06404320 (Remotely Delivered Physical Activity Program for Treatment-Resistant Depression), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06404320 narecruitingnot on this map

Remotely Delivered Physical Activity Program for Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorUnity Health TorontoRan2024 to 2025Enrolled30ConditionsTreatment-resistant Depression, Major Depressive DisorderArmsPA program - MoveU.HappyU
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Vanessa K TassoneInterventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9208-8809
Danika A QuesnelInterventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Karisa ParkingtonInterventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Alice RuedaInterventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9977-9653
Josh MartinInterventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Gyu Hee LeeInterventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Alyssa TeixeiraInterventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Melissa L deJongeFaculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Wendy LouDepartment of Biostatistics, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
David WiljerInstitute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Benoit H MulsantInstitute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Catherine M SabistonFaculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Venkat BhatInterventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8768-1173

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAt least 30% of individuals with major depressive disorder do not respond to conventional treatments (i.e., they meet the criteria for treatment-resistant depression [TRD]). Alternative therapeutic modalities are needed. Some studies have reported that physical activity (PA) programs can improve depressed mood and reduce depressive symptoms. However, few studies to date have examined the effects of PA as an adjunct to standard treatment for TRD. The MoveU.HappyU PA program has been shown to improve depressive symptoms in university students. Before a definitive trial testing MoveU.HappyU in TRD can be designed, pilot data is needed.

methodsThe current study is a single-site, pilot, two-arm randomized controlled trial. It will investigate the feasibility of randomizing 30 adult participants with TRD to: (1) a remotely delivered four-week MoveU.HappyU adjunct to treatment as usual (TAU), or (2) TAU. Acceptability of the PA program will also be assessed. Participants randomized to the PA program will meet weekly with a program trainer to engage in PA counselling and structured PA. They will also be instructed to independently complete 120 minutes of PA per week. The four-week intervention period will be followed by six weeks of observation. Throughout the study, both groups will receive the same digital monitoring via self-report questionnaires and a wearable device, as well as traditional monitoring (i.e., clinical assessments administered by a masked rater). DISCUSSION: This pilot study will assess the feasibility of a trial implementing MoveU.HappyU for TRD and generate clinical parameter estimates for larger studies. This line of research highlights the importance of PA programs that integrate personalized PA with PA counselling. It will also influence the development of interventions that are more tailored and effective.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT06404320.

Indexed as

Depressive Disorder, Treatment-ResistantExerciseExercise TherapyPatient ComplianceAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPilot ProjectsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID40892783
PMCPMC12404371

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.