Effect of Adapted Physical Activity on Emotion Regulation in People With Depressive Disorders

NCT07780695 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2022-A02099-34
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 45
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Depression is associated with difficulties in emotion regulation. Adapted physical activity (APA) may help improve emotional regulation in people with depressive disorders. The REAPAD study evaluates the effects of an adapted physical activity program on emotion regulation in adults with depressive disorders following psychiatric hospitalization. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two APA programs: a standard adapted physical activity program or a combined adapted physical activity program including activities specifically targeting emotional regulation. Emotion regulation is assessed using the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ). The study also evaluates depressive symptoms, anxiety, self-esteem, physical activity, physical condition, and other psychological and physical outcomes.

Conditions

Depressive Disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in emotion regulation strategies assessed by the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ

  Emotion regulation strategies are assessed using the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), a 36-item self-administered questionnaire comprising nine subscales. Items are rated from 1 (almost never) to 5 (almost always), providing scores for adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies

  Baseline (T0), immediately after completion of the 6-week intervention (T1), and 6 weeks after the end of the intervention (T2)

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Change in Depressive Symptom Severity Assessed by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS

  Baseline (T0), immediately after completion of the 6-week intervention (T1), and 6 weeks after the end of the intervention (T2)

• Change in Cognitive Flexibility Assessed by the Trail Making Test (TMT)

  Baseline (T0), immediately after completion of the 6-week intervention (T1), and 6 weeks after the end of the intervention (T2)

• Change in Subjective Vitality Assessed by the Subjective Vitality Scale

  Baseline (T0), immediately after completion of the 6-week intervention (T1), and 6 weeks after the end of the intervention (T2)

• Change in Mood States Assessed by the Profile of Mood States (POMS-F)

  Immediately before and immediately after each adapted physical activity session

Study Arms (2)

Classical Adapted Physical Activity

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Behavioral: Classical Adapted Physical Activity Program

Combined Adapted Physical Activity Program

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Adapted Physical Activity Program

Interventions

Classical Adapted Physical Activity Program BEHAVIORAL

Participants received an individualized, moderate-intensity adapted physical activity program consisting of 8 sessions over 6 weeks, with at least one session per week. The program included aerobic training (step-based exercises, lateral stepping and locomotor circuit tasks), lower-limb resistance training (chair stands, step-ups, lateral stepping and lunges), and agility and coordination exercises (agility ladder drills and motor circuit tasks). Session duration progressively increased from 25 minutes for sessions 1 and 8 to 30, 35 and 40 minutes for the intermediate sessions. Each session included a 5-minute warm-up and muscular flexibility period and a 10-minute cool-down period.

Classical Adapted Physical Activity

Adapted Physical Activity Program BEHAVIORAL

Participants received an individualized, moderate-intensity adapted physical activity program consisting of 8 sessions over 6 weeks, with at least one session per week. The program included aerobic training, lower-limb resistance training, and agility and coordination exercises. In addition, cognitive and emotional training tasks were integrated into the physical activity sessions. Cognitive tasks included short-term memory activities, verbal fluency dual tasks and cognitive flexibility exercises. Emotional tasks included identifying, recognizing and expressing emotions using images and photographs of facial expressions. These cognitive and emotional tasks were incorporated during exercises and rest periods throughout the program.

Combined Adapted Physical Activity Program

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age over 18 years
• Unipolar or bipolar depressive disorder
• Discharged from full hospitalization, up to three weeks after discharge
• Able to provide free and informed consent
• Not participating in any other research

You may not qualify if:

• High suicidal risk, at the investigator's discretion
• Medical contraindication to any physical activity
• Motor, psychological, or intellectual disability, or other medical condition, at the investigator's discretion, preventing full participation in the study
• Severe addictive disorder impeding participation in the study
• Psychotic disorder
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Any circumstances rendering the participant unable to understand the nature, purpose, or consequences of the trial
• Under legal protection (guardianship or trusteeship)
• No social security coverage

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Centre Hospitalier Georges Mazurelle: lead

Study Sites (1)

EPSM de Vendée - Centre Hospitalier Georges Mazurelle

La Roche-sur-Yon, Vendée, 85 000, France

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Longuechaud C, Videau Villeneuve F, Bulteau F, Valot I, Douet M, Bulteau S, Deschamps T, Sauvaget A. The effect of adapted physical activity programs on the regulation of emotions in people suffering from major depressive disorders after hospital discharge: REAPAD study protocol. Minerva Psychiatry. 2026;67(2):82. doi:10.23736/S2724-6612.26.02669-2.

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depressive Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mood Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 19, 2026
• First Posted: August 21, 2026
• Study Start: February 10, 2023
• Primary Completion: April 30, 2026
• Study Completion: April 30, 2026
• Last Updated: August 24, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

FR (1)