Exercise for geriatric psychiatry outpatients: Results from a clinic intervention

•Geriatric psychiatry outpatients participated in an exercise intervention.•Qualitative data identified recurring positive effects of the exercise intervention.•Mean depression scores improved following the exercise intervention. Exercise is a non-pharmacological intervention that may benefit elderly patients with depression, but the effects of an exercise intervention in geriatric psychiatry outpatients have yet to be tested. Outpatients in a geriatric psychiatry clinic participated in a structured exercise intervention of 50 minutes, twice-weekly, over twelve weeks. Depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline and post-intervention using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Nine participants had baseline and post-intervention PHQ-9 scores. Mean scores were 5.9 and 2.8 at baseline and post-intervention, respectively (p = 0.03). Exercise intervention for geriatric psychiatry outpatients may improve depressive symptoms. Evidence from controlled interventions is warranted.