Table 3.
General and clinical characteristics of all included studies.
| Study | Country | Design | Setting | Population | Comorbidities | Intervention | Instruction | MDD Severity (scale, degree) | Comparison | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sample Size | Age (mean ± SD) | Sex (F/M) | Type | Dose & Duration | Definition | Delivery mode | Comparator type | |||||||
| Vollbehr et al., 2022 (43) | Netherlands | R, P TAU-C, MC | Outpatient | 171 | 25.05 ± 4.64 | 171/0 | Non, psychiatric were exclude | MYI+ TAU | 9 × 1.5 hr; home practice 30–45 min/day | Psychologist and Yoga Teacher | HDRS, 18.63 ± 5.94 | TAU only | Group | Active + non-active |
| Lavretsky et al., 2022 (40) | USA | RCT, SC, P, DB, AC | Hospital & community | 178 | 69.3 ± 6.6 | 129/ 49 | Non, psychiatric were exclude | TCC | 60 min/week + 20 min/day home practice, 12-weeks | Certified Tai Chi Chih trainers | HAM-D, 19.1 ± 3.9 | HEW | Group (6–8 participants) | Active |
| Bressington et al., 2019 (38) | Hong Kong | RCT, SC, P, NB, | Hospital | 50 | 47.96 ± 10.99 | 35/15 | physical comorbidities (mostly HTN, DM) | LY | 45 min/ × 2 /week × 4 weeks (8 sessions total); daily home practice 4 weeks | 1 certified lead LY trainer + 3 co-investigators | DASS-21, 25.39 ± 2.68 | TAU | Group (max 12 participants) | Active usual care |
| Haller et al., 2018 (45) | Germany | RCT, SC, P, DB, AC | outpatient clinic | 20 | 45 ± 8 | 13/7 | NR | Web-based exercise | Endurance: 30–60 min/session, 2–3x/week; Strength: 2x/week; 8 weeks | Sports therapist | QIDS-SR 16 ± 3; QIDS-C 14 ± 3 | TAU | Group | active |
| Uebelacker et al., 2017 (46) | USA | RCT, SC, P, SB, AC | hospital outpatients | 122 | 44.49 ± 12.95 | 84/38 | NR, psychiatric were excluded | Hatha Yoga | 80 min/session × 1–2 sessions/week × 10 weeks; encouraged home practice 10-weeks | Registered Yoga Teachers | QIDS, overall, in 8–17 range | HLW | Goup | Active |
| Schuch et al., 2015 (41) | Brazil | RCT, SC, P, SB, TAU-C | hospital inpatient unit | 50 | 40.3 ± 10.95 | 37/13 | NR, patients with contraindications to exercise excluded | aerobic exercise + TAU | 16.5 kcal/kg/week aerobic exercise; 3 sessions/week; ~42–43 min/session | trained research staff (physiologist) | HAM-D ≥25 | TAU | Individual | Active |
| Kinser et al., 2014 (44) | USA | RCT, SC, P, NB, non- AC | Urban community | 27 | 38.9 ± 12.6 | 27/0 | Any other psychiatric conditions were extracted | Yoga | Weekly 75-min group sessions + daily home practice for 8 weeks | manual-guided | PHQ-9 ≥10 at baseline | HE | Group | Active |
| Yeung et al., 2012 (42) | USA | RCT, SC, P, SB, | Community-based | 39 | 55 ± 10 | 30/9 | Any other psychiatric conditions were extracted | Tai Chi | 1 hr/session × 2 sessions/week × 12 weeks + home practice, 12-weeks | Tai Chi experienced instructor | HAM-D17 ≥12 | Waitlist control | Group | Active & non-active |
| Mota-Pereira et al., 2011 (47) | Portugal | RCT, SC, P, NB, AC | outpatients | 33 | NR | NR | NR | Moderate aerobic exercise | 30–45 min/day, 5 days/week × 12 weeks; 1 supervised, walk/week, 12-weeks | Weekly supervision by research team | HAM-D17 ≥ | Usual pharmacotherapy only | Individual | Non-active |
| Lavretsky et al., 2011 (39) | USA | RCT, SC, P, DB, AC | Outpatient | 73 | 70.57 ± 7.3 | 45/28 | Mild anxiety, apathy | TCC + escitalopram (10–20 mg/day) | 2 hours per week × 10 weeks | Certified Tai Chi Chih instructor | Overall HDRS ~17 | HE + escitalopram | Group | Active |
| Carta et al., 2008 (23) | Italy | RCT, SC, P, NB, AC | Psychiatric Unit, Hospital | 30 | Range between 40-60 | 30/0 | GAD, SP, PD | PA + pharmacotherapy (antidepressants) | 60 min/session × 2/week × 32 weeks, 8-months | Skilled instructor & supervised by physician and psychologist | HAM-D > 13 | Pharmacotherapy only; same antidepressant classes | Group | Active |
PA, Physical Activity; TCC, Tai Chi Chih; NB, No Blinding; HE, Health-education; SB, Single Blind; LY, Laughter Yoga; HEW, Health Education and Wellness; MC, Multi Centre.