Effects of antidepressant administration on physical performance and perceived exertion in athletes: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Jeongha Yun, Sohyeon Park, Kalynn Park et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of antidepressant use on physical performance and perceived exertion in athletes. Involving 99 male athletes from ten randomized controlled trials, the study found that acute antidepressant administration led to a small increase in perceived exertion (mean difference 0.52 points on the Borg scale, p < 0.05), while no significant overall effects were observed on physical performance metrics.
Key findings
- Acute antidepressant use increased perceived exertion by 0.52 points on the Borg scale (95% CI 0.01-1.04; p < 0.05).
- Reboxetine significantly impaired time-trial performance by 3.62 minutes (95% CI 0.18-7.06; p < 0.05).
- Reboxetine reduced mean power output by 19.97 W (95% CI -36.87 to -3.06; p < 0.05).
Why it matters
Understanding the impact of antidepressants on athletes is crucial, as these medications are frequently prescribed for depressive disorders. Clinicians need to be aware of potential changes in perceived exertion and performance when treating athletes with these medications.