***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
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    Input: Background Depression is a disabling , prevalent condition . Physical activity programs may assist depression management in older people , ameliorate co-morbid conditions and reduce the need for antidepressants . The UPLIFT pilot study assessed the feasibility of older depressed people attending a community-based progressive resistance training ( PRT ) program .  The study also aim ed to determine whether PRT improves depressive status in older depressed patients . Methods A r and omised controlled trial was conducted . People aged ≥ 65 years with depressive symptoms were recruited via general practice s. Following baseline assessment , subjects were r and omly allocated to attend a local PRT program three times per week for 10 weeks or a brief advice control group . Follow-up assessment of depressive status , physical and psychological health , functional and quality of life status occurred post intervention and at six months . Results Three hundred and forty six people responded to the study invitation , of whom 22 % had depressive symptoms ( Geriatric Depression Scale , GDS-30 score ≥ 11 ) . Thirty two people entered the trial . There were no significant group differences on the GDS at follow-up . At six months there was a trend for the PRT intervention group to have lower GDS scores than the comparison group , but this finding did not reach significance ( p = 0.08 ) . More of the PRT group ( 57 % ) had a reduction in depressive symptoms post program , compared to 44 % of the control group . It was not possible to discern which specific components of the program influenced its impact , but in post hoc analyses , improvement in depressive status appeared to be associated with the number of exercise sessions completed ( r = -0.8 , p < 0.01 ) . Conclusion The UPLIFT pilot study confirmed that older people with depression can be successfully recruited to a community based PRT program . The program can be offered by existing community-based facilities , enabling its ongoing implementation for the potential benefit of other older people BACKGROUND Although exercise has been shown to relieve depression , little is known about its mechanism or dose-response characteristics . We hypothesized that high intensity progressive resistance training ( PRT ) would be more effective than either low intensity PRT or st and ard care by a general practitioner ( GP ) in depressed elderly persons , and that high intensity PRT would provide superior benefits in quality of life , sleep quality , and self-efficacy . METHODS Sixty community-dwelling adults > 60 years with major or minor depression were r and omized to supervised high intensity PRT ( 80 % maximum load ) or low intensity PRT ( 20 % maximum load ) 3 days per week for 8 weeks , or GP care . RESULTS A 50 % reduction in the Hamilton Rating Scale of Depression score was achieved in 61 % of the high intensity , 29 % of the low intensity , and 21 % of the GP care group ( p = .03 ) . Strength gain was directly associated with reduction in depressive symptoms ( r = 0.40 , p = .004 ) , as was baseline social support network type ( F = 3.52 , p = .015 ) , whereas personality type , self-efficacy , and locus of control were unrelated to the antidepressant effect . Vitality quality -of-life scale improved more in the high intensity group than in the others ( p = .04 ) . Sleep quality improved significantly in all participants ( p < .0001 ) , with the greatest relative change in high intensity PRT ( p = .05 ) . CONCLUSIONS High intensity PRT is more effective than is low intensity PRT or GP care for the treatment of older depressed patients We examined the effects of two physical activity modes on depressive symptoms over a 5-year period among older adults and change in physical self-esteem as a mediator of changes in depressive symptoms . Formerly sedentary , older adults ( N = 174 ) were r and omly assigned into 6-month conditions of either walking or low-intensity resistance/flexibility training .  Depressive symptoms and physical self-esteem were measured before and after the 6-month intervention , and 12 and 60 months after intervention initiation . Depressive symptoms scores were decreased immediately after the intervention , followed by a sustained reduction for 12 and 60 months after intervention initiation ; there was no differential pattern of change between the physical activity modes . Change in physical self-esteem predicted change in depressive symptoms . This study supports the effectiveness of an exercise intervention for the sustained reduction of depressive symptoms among sedentary older adults and physical self-esteem as a potential mediator of this effect BACKGROUND Previous observational and interventional studies have suggested that regular physical exercise may be associated with reduced symptoms of depression . However , the extent to which exercise training may reduce depressive symptoms in older patients with major depressive disorder ( MDD ) has not been systematic ally evaluated . OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of an aerobic exercise program compared with st and ard medication ( ie , antidepressants ) for treatment of MDD in older patients , we conducted a 16-week r and omized controlled trial . METHODS One hundred fifty-six men and women with MDD ( age , > or = 50 years ) were assigned r and omly to a program of aerobic exercise , antidepressants ( sertraline hydrochloride ) , or combined exercise and medication . Subjects underwent comprehensive evaluations of depression , including the presence and severity of MDD using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Fourth Edition criteria and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression ( HAM-D ) and Beck Depression Inventory ( BDI ) scores before and after treatment . Secondary outcome measures included aerobic capacity , life satisfaction , self-esteem , anxiety , and dysfunctional cognitions . RESULTS After 16 weeks of treatment , the groups did not differ statistically on HAM-D or BDI scores ( P = .67 ) ; adjustment for baseline levels of depression yielded an essentially identical result . Growth curve models revealed that all groups exhibited statistically and clinical ly significant reductions on HAM-D and BDI scores . However , patients receiving medication alone exhibited the fastest initial response ; among patients receiving combination therapy , those with less severe depressive symptoms initially showed a more rapid response than those with initially more severe depressive symptoms . CONCLUSIONS An exercise training program may be considered an alternative to antidepressants for treatment of  depression in older persons . Although antidepressants may facilitate a more rapid initial therapeutic response than exercise , after 16 weeks of treatment exercise was equally effective in reducing depression among patients with MDD Abstract : A r and omised controlled trial was conducted to determine whether a 12–month program of group exercise had beneficial effects on physiological and cognitive functioning and mood in 187 older community – dwelling women . The  exercisers ( n= 94 ) and controls ( n= 93 ) were well matched in terms of the test measures and a number of health and life – style assessment s. The mean number of classes attended by the 71 exercise subjects who completed the program was 59.0 ( range 26 to 82 ) . At the end of the trial , the exercisers showed significant improvements in reaction time , strength , memory span and measures of wellbeing when compared with the controls . There was also an indication that anxiety had been reduced in the exercisers . Within the exercise group , improvements in memory span were associated with concomitant improvements in both reaction time and muscle strength . Also , within this group , initial mood measures were significantly inversely associated with improvements at retest , which suggests that the program may have normalised mood states in subjects who had high initial depression , anxiety and stress levels , rather than inducing improvements in all subjects . These findings suggest that group exercise has beneficial effects on physiological and cognitive functioning and wellbeing in older people Objective : To examine a 1-year follow-up of a 4-month , controlled clinical trial of exercise and antidepressant medication in patients with major depressive disorder ( MDD ) . Methods : In the original study , 202 sedentary adults with MDD were r and omized to : a ) supervised exercise ; b ) home-based exercise ; c ) sertraline ; or d ) placebo pill . We examined two outcomes measured at 1-year follow-up ( i.e. , 16 months post r and omization ) : 1 ) continuous Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score ; and 2 ) MDD status ( depressed ; partial remission ; full remission ) in 172 available participants ( 85 % of the original cohort ) . Regression analyses were performed to examine the effects of treatment group assignment , as well as follow-up antidepressant medication use and self-reported exercise ( Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Question naire ) , on the two outcomes . Results : In the original study , patients receiving exercise achieved similar benefits compared with those receiving sertraline . At the time of the 1-year follow-up , rates of MDD remission increased from 46 % at post treatment to 66 % for participants available for follow-up . Neither initial treatment group assignment nor antidepressant medication use during the follow-up period were significant predictors of MDD remission at 1 year . However , regular exercise during the follow-up period predicted both Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores and MDD diagnosis at 1 year . This relationship was curvilinear , with the association concentrated between 0 minute and 180 minutes of weekly exercise . Conclusion : The effects of aerobic exercise on MDD remission seem to be similar to sertraline after 4 months of treatment ; exercise during the follow-up period seems to extend the short-term benefits of exercise and may augment the benefits of antidepressant use . Trial Registration : clinical trials.gov Identifier : NCT00331305 . MDD = major depressive disorder ; HAM-D = Hamilton Depression Rating Scale ; SCID = Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Fourth Edition Axis I Disorders ; PSSS = Perceived Social Support Scale BACKGROUND Laughter Yoga founded by M. Kataria is a combination of unconditioned laughter and yogic breathing . Its effect on mental and physical aspects of healthy individuals was shown to be beneficial . OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Kataria 's Laughter Yoga and group exercise therapy in decreasing depression and increasing life satisfaction in older adult women of a cultural community of Tehran , Iran . METHODS Seventy depressed old women who were members of a cultural community of Tehran were chosen by Geriatric depression scale ( score>10 ) . After completion of Life Satisfaction Scale pre-test and demographic question naire , subjects were r and omized into three groups of laughter therapy , exercise therapy , and control . Subsequently , depression post-test and life satisfaction post-test were done for all three groups . The data were analyzed using analysis of covariance and Bonferroni 's correction . RESULTS Sixty subjects completed the study . The analysis revealed a significant difference in decrease in depression scores of both Laughter Yoga and exercise therapy group in comparison to control group ( p<0.001 and p<0.01 , respectively ) . There was no significant difference between Laughter Yoga and exercise therapy groups . The increase in life satisfaction of Laughter Yoga group showed a significant difference in comparison with control group ( p<0.001 ) . No significant difference was found between exercise therapy and either control or Laughter Yoga group . CONCLUSION Our findings showed that Laughter Yoga is at least as effective as group exercise program in improvement of depression and life satisfaction of elderly depressed women OBJECTIVES This report released findings of a r and omized controlled trial conducted in Hong Kong to further our underst and ing of the psychosocial effects of qigong on elderly persons with depression . DESIGN Eighty-two participants with a diagnosis of depression or obvious features of depression were recruited and r and omly assigned into the intervention and comparison group . The intervention group was given a 16-week period of Qigong practice while the comparison group participated in a newspaper reading group with same duration and frequency . RESULTS After eight weeks of qigong practice , the intervention group participants outstripped themselves in improvement in mood , self-efficacy and personal well being , and physical and social domains of self-concept when compared with comparison subjects . After 16 weeks of practice , the improvement generalized to the daily task domain of the self-concept . CONCLUSIONS This report shows that regular qigong practice could relieve depression , improve self-efficacy and personal well being among elderly persons with chronic physical illness and depression PURPOSE We wanted to assess the effectiveness of a home-based physical activity program , the Depression in Late Life Intervention Trial of Exercise ( DeLLITE ) , in improving function , quality of life , and mood in older people with depressive symptoms . METHODS We undertook a r and omized controlled trial involving 193 people aged 75 years and older with depressive symptoms at enrollment who were recruited from primary health care practice s in Auckl and , New Zeal and . Participants received either an individualized physical activity program or social visits to control for the contact time of the activity intervention delivered over 6 months . Primary outcome measures were function , a short physical performance battery comprising balance and mobility , and the Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living scale . Secondary outcome measures were quality of life , the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short form , mood , Geriatric Depression Scale ( GDS-15 ) , physical activity , Auckl and Heart Study Physical Activity Question naire , and self-report of falls . Repeated measures analyses tested the differential impact on outcomes over 12 months ’ follow-up . RESULTS The mean age of the participants was 81 years , and 59 % were women . All participants scored in the at – risk category on the depression screen , 53 % had a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or International Classification of Diseases , Tenth Revision diagnosis of major depression or scored more than 4 on the GDS-15 at baseline , indicating moderate or severe depression . Almost all participants , 187 ( 97 % ) , completed the trial . Overall there were no differences in the impact of the 2 interventions on outcomes . Mood and mental health related quality of life improved for both groups 
    Output:
    
In general , exercise produces an improvement in depression in older adults with more evidence in the short-term ( 3 months ) and strength training at high intensity .