Effect of Tai Chi on Young Adults with Subthreshold Depression via a Stress-Reward Complex: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Author: Jingsong Wu#1,2, Jian Song#1,2, Youze He#1,2, Zhaoying Li1, Haiyin Deng1, Zhenming Huang1, Xiaoting Xie1, Nichol M L Wong3,4, Jing Tao5,6, Tatia M C Lee7,8, Chetwyn C H Chan9
Affiliation:
1 College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China.
2 The Academy of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China.
3 State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Rm 656, The Jockey Club Tower, Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
4 Laboratory of Neuropsychology and Human Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
5 National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Rehabilitation Medicine Technology, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China. taojing01@fjtcm.edu.cn.
6 Fujian Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Technology, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1 Huatuo Road, Minhou Shangjie, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, People's Republic of China. taojing01@fjtcm.edu.cn.
7 State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Rm 656, The Jockey Club Tower, Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China. tmclee@hku.hk.
8 Laboratory of Neuropsychology and Human Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China. tmclee@hku.hk.
9 Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China. cchchan@eduhk.hk.
Conference/Journal: Sports Med Open
Date published: 2023 Sep 28
Other: Volume ID: 9 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 90 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1186/s40798-023-00637-w. , Word Count: 255

Background:
Subthreshold depression is a highly prevalent mood disorder in young adults. Mind-body exercises, such as Tai Chi, have been adopted as interventions for clinical depressive symptoms. However, the possible effect and underlying mechanism of Tai Chi on subthreshold depression of young individuals remain unclear. This randomized controlled study aimed to evaluate the effects of Tai Chi training and tested the combined stress and reward circuitry model for subthreshold depression.

Results:
A total of 103 participants completed this trial, with 49 in the 12-week 24-style Tai Chi group and 54 participants in control group. Our results showed significantly lower scores on depressive symptoms (P = 0.002) and anxiety symptoms (P = 0.009) and higher scores on quality of life (P = 0.002) after Tai Chi training. There were significant reductions in salivary cortisol levels (P = 0.007) and putamen gray matter volume (P < 0.001) in the Tai Chi group. The changes in cortisol levels and putamen gray matter volume had direct (bootstrapping confidence interval [- 0.91, - 0.11]) and indirect effects (bootstrapping confidence interval [- 0.65, - 0.19]) on the changes induced by Tai Chi training on depressive symptoms, respectively.

Conclusion:
The stress-reward complex results indicated an interaction between lowering stress levels and increasing reward circuitry activity associated with the alleviation of depressive symptoms among participants. The 12-week Tai Chi training was effective in improving the symptoms and quality of life of young adults with subthreshold depression. Trial Registration Chinese Registry of Clinical Trials (Registration Number: ChiCTR1900028289, Registered December 12, 2019).

Keywords: Gray matter volume; Randomized controlled trial; Salivary cortisol level; Subthreshold depression; Tai Chi training.

PMID: 37768381 DOI: 10.1186/s40798-023-00637-w

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