NCT06110897Recruiting
RESISTance Exercise for Depression Trial
Resistance Exercise to Treat Major Depression Via Cerebrovascular Mechanisms: Confirming Efficacy and Informing Precision Medicine
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 5 May 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and current treatments are ineffective for many people. This trial will investigate the efficacy of a 16-week high vs low dose resistance exercise training program for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in 200 adults.
- Status (registry)
- Recruiting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 200 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 20 Oct 2023
- Start date
- 1 Jan 2024
- Primary completion date
- 1 Nov 2028
- Lead sponsor
- University of Wisconsin, Madison
- Diseases
- Depression
- NCT number
- NCT06110897
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Planned participants: 200
- From 1 Jan 2024 to the primary completion date, 1 Nov 2028
- 2 sites in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Other illness
- Diagnosed with lifetime or current Psychosis, Mania, or Bipolar Disorder, via the SCID
- Diagnosed with current Substance Use Disorder, via the SCID
- Exhibit behavioral disturbance (e.g., aggression, mild-moderate cognitive impairment) that would significantly interfere with study participation, as assessed by clinical research personnel
- Having cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled hypertension, or uncontrolled diabetes
Other
- Currently pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant during the trial
- Class III+ obesity
- Active suicidal ideation with specific plan and intent ('5' score on Suicidal Ideation from Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale), which would necessitate immediate emergent care
- Currently meets resistance exercise recommendations (2 days per week) for the last 8 weeks
- Self-reporting a concussion/traumatic brain injury within the last 3 months
Who the study is looking for
- Be diagnosed with DSM-5 MDD, confirmed via Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID).
- Have current depressive symptoms of at least mild severity defined by the Hamilton Rating Scale of Depression 17 greater than or equal to 8 (HAMD; using the GRID-HAMD evaluated by trained, masked raters)
- Be ages 18-65
- EITHER not taking any mental health medications or seeking other mental health treatment (e.g., behavioral, psychological) OR be on a stable mental health medication and/or treatment regimen for the past 8 weeks, and intend to maintain that regimen for the duration of the study
- Safe to exercise based on physical activity screening questions or physician clearance
- Willing to be randomized to either condition
- have a Smartphone
Age in the registry: 18 years to 65 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (2)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State University Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Ames | United States | Completed |
| University of Wisconsin - Madison Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Madison | United States | Recruiting |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.