Tai Chi Can Help Seniors Being Treated for Major Depression

Half the people living in nursing homes suffer from depression, and unfortunately almost 2/3 of older patients treated for depression failed to have their symptoms relieved. Seeking to kill two or more birds with one stone, researchers at UCLA evaluated the benefits of Tai Chi on depressive symptoms. Their report is published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

Over 100 people with major depression aged 60 and over were treated with escitalopram, a standard antidepressant, for approximately 4 weeks. 73 partial responders to the antidepressant continued on it daily and were randomly assigned to either 10 weeks of Tai Chi for two hours a week, or health education for the same period. All the participants had regular evaluations for their depression, anxiety, cognition, and health-related quality of life, at baseline and during the 4 month follow-up period. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression was used to assess depressive symptoms. Ninety-four percent of the Tai Chi participants had a score of less than 10 on the Hamilton Rating Scale, compared with a 77% rate in those receiving health education. Sixty-five percent of the Tai Chi group achieved remission (is score of six or less on the rating scale) compared with only 51% in the health education group. Participants in the Tai Chi group also had significantly greater improvements in a survey of physical functioning and cognitive tests, and a decline in inflammatory marker (C-reactive protein), compared with the control group.

Tai Chi has been shown to boost immunity (e.g. against shingles), improve insomnia, prevent falls (at least by improving balance), and lower blood pressure. Now here's another condition where it may be useful. It would be interesting to have a controlled prospective study comparing the effects of Tai Chi versus a standard antidepressant, but the actual design of such a study would be difficult. However, in view of its other apparent benefits, and safety when done in the hands of an expert instructor, Tai Chi should be considered for use in major depression. (Of course, it's difficult to discount the benefits of social interaction with others in the class, and the fact that Tai Chi is fun.)