Exercise Treats Depression As Well as Therapy or Medication, Review Findings
A dose of gym can do wonders for both the ailing body and mind. A report today finds that exercise can offer the same benefits for depression as other widely used treatments.
UK scientists have reviewed the medical literature on exercise and depression, examining a number of clinical trials. They found strong evidence that exercise can reduce symptoms of depression, at least in the short term, and evidence that its effects are consistent with treatment or antidepressants. Although more research is needed to fully quantify these benefits, exercise should be considered part of the toolbox used to treat depression, the researchers said.
“Exercise offers an opportunity to select people with symptoms of depression, as well as medication or psychotherapy,” lead study author Andrew Clegg, a professor at the University of Lancashire, told Gizmodo.
Comprehensive analysis
The research by Clegg and his team was conducted on behalf of the Cochrane Library, a British-based research organization known for its comprehensive reviews of clinical trial data related to important public health topics.
They reviewed 73 randomized trials involving about 5,000 adults with depression. Fifty-seven trials compared exercise with no treatment or a control; ten trials compared exercise with treatment, and five compared exercise with antidepressants.
Overall, Clegg’s team determined that exercise was more effective in reducing depression compared to no treatment, although this reduction may be moderate. That said, the long-term benefits of exercise for stress are unclear.
They also concluded that “there is almost no difference in stress levels” between people who regularly exercise compared to people who take treatment. The same seems to be true when comparing exercise with antidepressants, but the evidence there is less conclusive.
The team’s findings also suggest that light or moderate exercise may be more effective for depression than vigorous exercise. And while no one type of exercise appears to be better than another, a mixed exercise program or resistance training may be better than aerobic exercise alone, according to researchers.
Remaining questions
The Cochrane review is the latest study to show that exercise can reduce symptoms of depression at least as well as other conventional treatments. But the authors say there are still important aspects that can be better understood with larger, high-quality randomized trials.
“If more research were to be funded, it should consider which type of exercise is more effective in the long term, how much exercise should be done and for how long. Also, to look at who benefits from exercise, as it may benefit some people but not others,” Clegg explained.
Exercise is arguably one of the best things you can do for your overall health, however, and it may have a few side effects (the review noted that reported “adverse events” from exercise were rare). Some studies have also suggested that combining exercise with other interventions such as therapy may be more effective than either alone.
People dealing with depression should ultimately be encouraged to pursue the treatment they are most comfortable with, Clegg said. But that list of options would seem to include exercise.
