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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Regular exercise may work as well as medication in improving symptoms of major depression, researchers have found.
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In a study of 202 depressed adults, investigators found that those who went through group-based exercise therapy did as well as those treated with an antidepressant drug. A third group that performed home-based exercise also improved, though to a lesser degree.
Importantly, the researchers found, all three groups did better than a fourth group given a placebo -- an inactive pill identical to the antidepressant.
While past studies have suggested that exercise can ease depression symptoms, a criticism has been that the research failed to compare exercise with a placebo. This leaves a question as to whether the therapy, per se, was responsible for the benefit.
The new findings bolster evidence that exercise does have a real effect on depression, according to the researchers . . .
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070919/hl_nm/exercise_depression_dc;_ylt=AkPUPcNs8nL1viGmopQhE1cQ.3QA
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In a study of 202 depressed adults, investigators found that those who went through group-based exercise therapy did as well as those treated with an antidepressant drug. A third group that performed home-based exercise also improved, though to a lesser degree.
Importantly, the researchers found, all three groups did better than a fourth group given a placebo -- an inactive pill identical to the antidepressant.
While past studies have suggested that exercise can ease depression symptoms, a criticism has been that the research failed to compare exercise with a placebo. This leaves a question as to whether the therapy, per se, was responsible for the benefit.
The new findings bolster evidence that exercise does have a real effect on depression, according to the researchers . . .
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070919/hl_nm/exercise_depression_dc;_ylt=AkPUPcNs8nL1viGmopQhE1cQ.3QA
I wanted to add some details of this study though to let us know these results arent generalizable to everyone
1) Participants were over the age of 40 with average age 53 (most were white women)
2) Patients were excluded if they had other mood disorders (bipolar disorder, etc)
3) MOST people in the study had MILD depression with only 35% having moderate to severe depression.
I am glad to see these results and hope more studies will be done
For full text search Psychosomatic Medicine and you can track down the full text
Dr O.
Besides easing depression symptoms, exercising also helps you feel good about yourself, increasing your self-esteem. Now who can be depressed when you look like all that and a bag of chips?! lol..just kidding..but something to think about..
So, my point is, exercise is what makes me happy almost no matter what happens. I definatly advise anyone with depression (especially major) to exercise (but don't over-do it!!!).