Exercise for Depressed Smokers

Inclusion criteria

• are between 18 and 65 years of age
• are current smokers (i.e., smoking at least 10 cigarettes per day)
• have currently elevated depressive symptoms (CES-D ≥ 6)
• are sedentary, i.e., have not participated regularly in aerobic exercise (for at least 90 minutes per week during the past three months)

Exclusion criteria

• DSM-IV diagnosis of current mania
• DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar rapid cycling
• lifetime history of psychotic disorder or DSM-IV diagnosis of current psychotic symptoms
• DSM-IV diagnosis of current substance abuse or dependence in the past 6 months
• DSM-IV diagnosis of anorexia or bulimia nervosa
• current suicidality or homicidality
• marked organic impairment
• current use of antidepressant medication for less than 3 months or change in antidepressant medication or dosage in the past 3 months,
• physical disabilities or medical problems that would prevent or hinder participation in a program of moderate intensity exercise (i.e., physician denied medical clearance)
• current pregnancy or intent to become pregnant during the next 12 weeks
• contraindications for use of the nicotine patch (e.g., pregnancy, recent myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, angina, untreated hypertension, untreated diabetes, and previous adverse reaction to the patch)
• current illness or medications that may alter proposed inflammatory markers (e.g., acute infection, immune disorders, aspirin)
• current use of any pharmacotherapy or other treatment for smoking cessation.