Effects of Baduanjin Exercise on Depression Severity and Heart Rate Variability in Adults with Major Depressive Disorder: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Overview

Journal Psychol Res Behav Manag

Publisher Dove Medical Press

Specialty Social Sciences

Date 2025 Mar 10

PMID 40060106

Authors

Jiajia Ye

Jianqi Fang

Shanli Yang

Qiuyang Xiang

Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: Major depressive disorder is a common psychiatric condition characterized by persistent sadness and a lack of interest in life. It is often associated with alterations in autonomic nervous system functioning. This study examined the impact of a 10-week Baduanjin exercise program on heart rate variability and depression severity in individuals with major depressive disorder.

Methods: The present study was a two-arm, single-blind, pilot randomized controlled trial. Thirty-four participants were randomly assigned to either a Baduanjin group (n = 17) or a control group (standard care) (n = 17). The Baduanjin group participated in 60-minute sessions twice weekly while the control group were given the standard care appropriate for people with major depression disorder. Heart rate variability (HRV) and depression severity were assessed at baseline, Week 5, and Week 10.

Results: Results showed no significant interaction effect between group and time. However, there was a group effect for ratio of low-frequency-to-high-frequency (LF/HF ratio) HRV (=0.049) only. Between-group differences were observed with Baduanjin exercise (Mean±SD: 0.27±0.33) group having higher scores than the control group (0.01±0.40). Also, there were significant time effects for depression, high-frequency (HF) HRV, low-frequency (LF) HRV, LF norm HRV, and total power (s<0.05). Depression severity significantly decreased in both groups by Week 5 and Week 10 (s<0.05) while low-frequency HRV and total power HRV increased in both groups by Week 5 and Week 10 (s<0.05).

Conclusion: These findings suggested that Baduanjin exercise may positively influence aspects of autonomic function. Future research with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods is needed to investigate its long-term effects and potential benefits for depressive symptoms in individuals with major depressive disorder. This study was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900027222).

References

Sgoifo A, Carnevali L, Alfonso M, Amore M . Autonomic dysfunction and heart rate variability in depression. Stress. 2015; 18(3):343-52. DOI: 10.3109/10253890.2015.1045868. View

Koval P, Ogrinz B, Kuppens P, Van den Bergh O, Tuerlinckx F, Sutterlin S . Affective instability in daily life is predicted by resting heart rate variability. PLoS One. 2013; 8(11):e81536. PMC: 3843676. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081536. View

Zeng L, Zhao X, Yu Y, Hu T, Li C, Wu M . Effects of Tai Chi on depression of middle-aged and older adults: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2023; 23(1):382. PMC: 10605936. DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04207-1. View

Schiweck C, Piette D, Berckmans D, Claes S, Vrieze E . Heart rate and high frequency heart rate variability during stress as biomarker for clinical depression. A systematic review. Psychol Med. 2018; 49(2):200-211. DOI: 10.1017/S0033291718001988. View

Ye J, Cheung W, Tsang H . The Neuroscience of Nonpharmacological Traditional Chinese Therapy (NTCT) for Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019; 2019:2183403. PMC: 6541968. DOI: 10.1155/2019/2183403. View

Moher D, Hopewell S, Schulz K, Montori V, Gotzsche P, Devereaux P . CONSORT 2010 explanation and elaboration: updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomised trials. Int J Surg. 2011; 10(1):28-55. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2011.10.001. View

Marwaha S, Palmer E, Suppes T, Cons E, Young A, Upthegrove R . Novel and emerging treatments for major depression. Lancet. 2022; 401(10371):141-153. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)02080-3. View

Niu M, Zhao R, Wang J . The effects of a music intervention on the autonomic nervous system during recovery from strenuous exercise. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol. 2023; 29(1):e13096. PMC: 10770821. DOI: 10.1111/anec.13096. View

Luo X, Zhao M, Zhang Y, Zhang Y . Effects of baduanjin exercise on blood glucose, depression and anxiety among patients with type II diabetes and emotional disorders: A meta-analysis. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2022; 50:101702. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101702. View

10.

Ye J, Cai S, Cheung W, Tsang H . An East Meets West Approach to the Understanding of Emotion Dysregulation in Depression: From Perspective to Scientific Evidence. Front Psychol. 2019; 10:574. PMC: 6447656. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00574. View

11.

Araujo A, Esche G, Kupelian V, ODonnell A, Travison T, Williams R . Prevalence of symptomatic androgen deficiency in men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007; 92(11):4241-7. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2007-1245. View

12.

Ye J, Simpson M, Liu Y, Lin W, Zhong W, Cai S . The Effects of Baduanjin Qigong on Postural Stability, Proprioception, and Symptoms of Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Front Med (Lausanne). 2020; 6:307. PMC: 6966958. DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2019.00307. View

13.

Noetel M, Sanders T, Gallardo-Gomez D, Taylor P, Del Pozo Cruz B, van den Hoek D . Effect of exercise for depression: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ. 2024; 384:e075847. PMC: 10870815. DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2023-075847. View

14.

Leung K, Yang Y, Hui S, Woo J . Mind-Body Health Benefits of Traditional Chinese on Women: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021; 2021:7443498. PMC: 8457943. DOI: 10.1155/2021/7443498. View

15.

Yin H, Wardenaar K, Xu G, Tian H, Schoevers R . Mental health stigma and mental health knowledge in Chinese population: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry. 2020; 20(1):323. PMC: 7310154. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-020-02705-x. View

16.

Yang W, Xu Y, Ye L, Rong L, Feng J, Huang B . Effects of Baduanjin exercise on quality-of-life and exercise capacity in patients with heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2022; 50:101675. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101675. View

17.

Santra G . Yoga and the Need of Its Integration in Modern Medicine. J Assoc Physicians India. 2023; 70(12):11-12. DOI: 10.5005/japi-11001-0142. View

18.

Zou L, Yeung A, Quan X, Hui S, Hu X, Chan J . Mindfulness-Based Baduanjin Exercise for Depression and Anxiety in People with Physical or Mental Illnesses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018; 15(2). PMC: 5858390. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15020321. View

19.

Xia R, Wan M, Lin H, Ye Y, Chen S, Zheng G . Effects of mind-body exercise Baduanjin on cognition in community-dwelling older people with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial. Neuropsychol Rehabil. 2022; 33(8):1368-1383. DOI: 10.1080/09602011.2022.2099909. View

20.

Burcusa S, Iacono W . Risk for recurrence in depression. Clin Psychol Rev. 2007; 27(8):959-85. PMC: 2169519. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2007.02.005. View