"Exercise and Mood Dysregulation- Basic Science to Inform Pilot Trial Development"
There is a critical need for better treatment options in bipolar disorder (BD)—a severe mood disorder affecting 1-5% of the population—particularly interventions that manage inter-episode functional impairment. Physical activity has a positive impact on brain function and demonstrated benefits in major depressive disorder (MDD), suggesting it may be helpful in BD. Preliminary evidence from trials of physical activity among persons with BD suggests its tolerability as an intervention, but questions remain regarding dose, impact on mood, and physiologic response (e.g., capacity). The overarching hypothesis of this long-range research arc is that physical activity is a lever that drives real-time and cumulative changes in mood that can be leveraged for self-regulation. The overall objective is to assess differences in physiologic response to cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and links to clinical predictors and pre-post mood change in persons with BD or MDD.