The Acute Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Sleep in Patients With Depression

Inclusion Criteria: * Inpatient psychosomatic rehabilitation in the clinic OBERWAID, St.Gallen, Switzerland * Age: ≥18 and ≤65 years old * Primary diagnosis of depression (F32, F33) without psychotic episode according to International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 10th edition Exclusion Criteria: * Regular use of hypnotic agents (patients were included if no hypnotic agents were taken 2 weeks prior to study participation) * Factors precluding exercise testing or training * Use of beta-blockers (with the exception of Carvedilol \& Nebivolol) * Use of opioids * History of epilepsy * Restless legs syndrome defined by ≥7 points on the restless legs syndrome screening questionnaire (RLSSQ) * Moderate or severe sleep apnea defined by an oxygen desaturation index (ODI) ≥15 in the first polysomnography. * Morbid adiposity with BMI \>40