Effect of slow breathing exercise on forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in patients with major depressive disorder

Abstract

Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is associated with depressed lung function. Regular practice of slow breathing exercise (SBE) significantly improved lung function in healthy adult subjects. This study aimed to observe the effect of SBE and anti-depressive medication on forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1st second (FEV1) and FEV1/FVC% in major depressive disorder. Methods: This prospective intervention study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka on 60 newly diagnosed MDD female patients aged 20 to 50 years. They were enrolled from the Department of Psychiatry of BSMMU. Age, body mass index (BMI), socioeconomic status and occupation matched 30 apparently healthy females were controls. MDD patients were subdivided into 2 groups. Thirty (30) patients were intervened with slow breathing exercise (SBE) along with anti-depressive medication whereas 30 patients were under anti-depressive medication only. All patients were studied at baseline and at the end of 3 months of intervention. FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC% were assessed by a portable digital spirometer. To see the difference independent sample ‘t’ test and paired sample ‘t’test were used as appropriate. Results: FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC% were significantly lower (p≤0.001) in all MDD patients at baseline than control. After 3 months of follow-up these values were found significantly improved in patients with slow breathing but no improvement was found in patients treated with only anti-depressive medication. Moreover, these values were found significantly higher in patients with SBE than those of patients under medication only after 3 months of follow-up. Conclusion: Based on the study findings, it may be concluded that SBE may significantly improve depressed lung function of MDD patients whereas anti-depressive medication had no impact on reduced lung function associated with MDD.