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Monoamines and cortisol as potential mediators of the relationship between exercise and depressive symptoms

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European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the effects of exercise plus pharmacotherapy on monoamine neurotransmitters (dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline, serotonin) and cortisol levels. A total of 26 women with clinical depression were randomly assigned to one of the two groups: aerobic exercise plus pharmacotherapy or only pharmacotherapy. The exercise program consisted of aerobic exercise, 45–50 min/session, three times/week, for 16 weeks. The biological parameters were measured before and after the exercise program. Adding exercise to pharmacotherapy had no additional effects on monoamines and cortisol plasma levels. These data are preliminary outcomes from a small sample and should be replicated.

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Acknowledgments

Lara S. F. Carneiro is grateful to the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) for the PhD Grant (SFRH/BD/84988/2012), financed by POPH, and subsidized by FSE and MCTES. R. Alves thanks the financial support to Operação NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000011 and UID/QUI/50006/2013—POCI/01/0145/FEDER/007265 (FCT/MEC and FEDER). The authors would like to thank the participants in the HAPPY BRAIN study, the Portuguese Olympic Committee, and Millennium BCP Foundation for awarding this research with the first prize of Psychology and Pedagogy in Sports, 2014.

Author contributions

Lara S. F. Carneiro carried out the literature search and statistical analysis, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript under the supervision of authors Professor José Vasconcelos-Raposo and Professor Maria Paula Mota. Author Professor Maria Augusta Vieira-Coelho conducted the clinical assessment of screened patients and coordinated sample, processed, and prepared it for analysis. Author Professor Rita C. Alves wrote the performed experiments. Author Professor António Manuel Fonseca provided the manuscript critical input. All authors contributed and approved the final manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Research, Sports Sciences, Health and Human Development, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta dos Prados, 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal

    Lara S. F. Carneiro & Maria Paula Mota

  2. Psychiatry and Mental Health Clinic, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal

    Maria Augusta Vieira-Coelho

  3. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Maria Augusta Vieira-Coelho

  4. REQUIMTE, LAQV/Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Rita C. Alves

  5. Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    António Manuel Fonseca

  6. Department of Education and Psychology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

    José Vasconcelos-Raposo

Authors
  1. Lara S. F. Carneiro
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  2. Maria Paula Mota
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  3. Maria Augusta Vieira-Coelho
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  4. Rita C. Alves
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  5. António Manuel Fonseca
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  6. José Vasconcelos-Raposo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lara S. F. Carneiro.

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Carneiro, L.S.F., Mota, M.P., Vieira-Coelho, M.A. et al. Monoamines and cortisol as potential mediators of the relationship between exercise and depressive symptoms. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 267, 117–121 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-016-0719-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-016-0719-0

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