Monday, April 7, 2008

Depression and Excercise


There are some strong indications that excercise seems to help reduce symptoms of depression. It can possibly help people on anti-depressants reach full remission and help prevent relapse into depression too.

Some studies on the possible benefits of exercise for the treatment of depression show that 2½ hours per week of moderate activity could signifcantly reduce symptoms of depression.

The research indicates that it does not matter if the exercise is frequently for a briefer time, or less frequently for a longer time. 50 minutes 3 times per week (2½ hours) and 30 minutes 5 times per week (2½ hours) are thus thought to have the same positive effect.

Excercise can include, gardening, jogging, walking, sex, biking or any other similiar activity.


Are your patients aware of this?

1 comment:

APNA said...

Some references

Dunn, A.L., Trivedi, M.H., Kampert, J.B., Clark, C. G., Chambliss, H.O. (2005). Exercise treatment for depression: Efficacy and dose response. Am J Prev Med 28(1):1-8.

Dunn, A. L, Madhukar, H. Trivedi, M. H. and O'Neal, H. A. (2001). Physical activity dose-response effects on outcomes of depression and anxiety. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 33 no6 p. 587-597.

Lawlor, D. A. and Hopkerand, S. W. (2001). The effectiveness of exercise as an intervention in the management of depression: systematic review and meta-regression analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ;322:1–8.