A1 Journal article (refereed)
Bright light therapy versus physical exercise to prevent co-occurring depression in adolescents and young adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder : a multicentre, three-arm, randomised controlled, pilot phase-IIa trial (2024)

Mayer, J. S., Kohlhas, L., Stermann, J., Medda, J., Brandt, G. A., Grimm, O., Pawley, A. D., Asherson, P., Palacio Sanchez, J., Richarte, V., Bergsma, D., Koch, E. D., Muntaner-Mas, A., Ebner-Priemer, U. W., Kieser, M., Retz, W., Ortega, F. B., Colla, M., Buitelaar, J. K., . . . Freitag, C. M. (2024). Bright light therapy versus physical exercise to prevent co-occurring depression in adolescents and young adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder : a multicentre, three-arm, randomised controlled, pilot phase-IIa trial. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, Early online. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-024-01784-1

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Mayer, Jutta S.; Kohlhas, Laura; Stermann, Jacek; Medda, Juliane; Brandt, Geva A.; Grimm, Oliver; Pawley, Adam D.; Asherson, Philip; Palacio Sanchez, Judit; Richarte, Vanesa; et al.

Journal or series: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience

ISSN: 0940-1334

eISSN: 1433-8491

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 16/04/2024

Volume: Early online

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Publication country: Germany

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-024-01784-1

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/94628

Abstract

Depression is common in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but preventive behavioural interventions are lacking. This randomised controlled, pilot phase-IIa trial aimed to study a physical exercise intervention (EI) and bright light therapy (BLT)—both implemented and monitored in an individual, naturalistic setting via a mobile health (m-health) system—for feasibility of trial design and interventions, and to estimate their effects on depressive symptoms in young people with ADHD. Two hundred seven participants aged 14–45 years were randomised to 10-week add-on intervention of either BLT (10,000 lx; daily 30-min sessions) (n = 70), EI (aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities 3 days/ week) (n = 69), or treatment-as-usual (TAU) (n = 68), of whom 165 (80%) were retained (BLT: n = 54; EI: n = 52; TAU: n = 59). Intervention adherence (i.e. ≥ 80% completed sessions) was very low for both BLT (n = 13, 22%) and EI (n = 4, 7%). Usability of the m-health system to conduct interventions was limited as indicated by objective and subjective data. Safety was high and comparable between groups. Changes in depressive symptoms (assessed via observer-blind ratings, Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology) between baseline and end of intervention were small (BLT: −0.124 [95% CI: −2.219, 1.971], EI: −2.646 [95% CI: −4.777, −0.515], TAU: −1.428 [95% CI: −3.381, 0.526]) with no group differences [F(2,153) = 1.45, p = 0.2384]. These findings suggest that the m-health approach did not achieve feasibility of EI and BLT in young people with ADHD. Prior to designing efficacy studies, strategies how to achieve high intervention adherence should be specifically investigated in this patient group.

Keywords: ADHD; depression (mental disorders); intervention (treatment methods); exercise therapy; bright light therapy; young people; young adults; randomised controlled trials

Free keywords: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; Depression; Obesity; Bright light therapy; Physical exercise; m-Health; Randomised controlled trial

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2024

Preliminary JUFO rating: 1