Complementary use of tai chi chih augments escitalopram treatment of geriatric depression: a randomized controlled trial.

TitleComplementary use of tai chi chih augments escitalopram treatment of geriatric depression: a randomized controlled trial.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsLavretsky H, Alstein LL, Olmstead RE, Ercoli LM, Riparetti-Brown M, St Cyr N, Irwin MR
JournalAm J Geriatr Psychiatry
Volume19
Issue10
Pagination839-50
Date Published2011 Oct
ISSN1545-7214
KeywordsAged, Anxiety, C-Reactive Protein, Citalopram, Cognition, Combined Modality Therapy, Depressive Disorder, Major, Female, Health Education, Humans, Male, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Quality of Life, Resilience, Psychological, Severity of Illness Index, Tai Ji
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Nearly two-thirds of elderly patients treated for depression fail to achieve symptomatic remission and functional recovery with first-line pharmacotherapy. In this study, we ask whether a mind-body exercise, Tai Chi Chih (TCC), added to escitalopram will augment the treatment of geriatric depression designed to achieve symptomatic remission and improvements in health functioning and cognitive performance.

METHODS: : One hundred twelve older adults with major depression age 60 years and older were recruited and treated with escitalopram for approximately 4 weeks. Seventy-three partial responders to escitalopram continued to receive escitalopram daily and were randomly assigned to 10 weeks of adjunct use of either 1) TCC for 2 hours per week or 2) health education (HE) for 2 hours per week. All participants underwent evaluations of depression, anxiety, resilience, health-related quality of life, cognition, and inflammation at baseline and during 14-week follow-up.

RESULTS: Subjects in the escitalopram and TCC condition were more likely to show greater reduction of depressive symptoms and to achieve a depression remission as compared with those receiving escitalopram and HE. Subjects in the escitalopram and TCC condition also showed significantly greater improvements in 36-Item Short Form Health Survey physical functioning and cognitive tests and a decline in the inflammatory marker, C-reactive protein, compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION: : Complementary use of a mind-body exercise, such as TCC, may provide additional improvements of clinical outcomes in the pharmacologic treatment of geriatric depression.

DOI10.1097/JGP.0b013e31820ee9ef
Alternate JournalAm J Geriatr Psychiatry
PubMed ID21358389
PubMed Central IDPMC3136557
Grant ListAG026364 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
AT003480 / AT / NCCIH NIH HHS / United States
CA10014152 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
CA116778 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
HL079955 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
K24 MH086481 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
MH077650 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
MH86481 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG028748 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P30-AG028748 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH077650 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH077650-02 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH077650-03 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH077650-04 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R21 AT003480 / AT / NCCIH NIH HHS / United States
R21 AT003480-01A2 / AT / NCCIH NIH HHS / United States
R21 AT003480-02 / AT / NCCIH NIH HHS / United States
R21 AT003480-03 / AT / NCCIH NIH HHS / United States
RR00827 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
T32-MH19925 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
UL1 RR033176 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
UL1 TR000124 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States