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May 11, 2005
Exercise fights depression?
I ran across this article in the Wall Street Journal the other day, and a web search found the same thing in PsycPort. Basically, some evidence is showing that regular exercise fights clinical depression.
...an altogether different treatment that shows tremendous promise in alleviating depression has gone largely unnoticed. That treatment is exercise. A growing body of medical literature, including at least three 2005 studies, is showing that aerobic routines as well as weight lifting are effective at combating depression. In addition to the famous "runner's high," or endorphin surge that provides a temporary mood lift following a workout, the studies show that there is a round-the-clock relief that sets in several weeks after the establishment of a regular exercise routine.
A study in the January issue of the Journal of Preventive Medicine suggested that a half-hour a day of exercise six days a week - which is the amount the federal government recommends for all Americans - might be ideal. Comparing two groups of depressed patients, the study found that the group that performed only 80 minutes of exercise a week received little to no mental-health benefit. But the three-hour-a-week group had a substantial reduction in symptoms. The study concluded "the response and remission rates in the (three-hours-per-week) group are comparable to other depression treatments, such as medication or cognitive behavioral therapy."
I mention this because a number of my friends have been battling depression for some time.
Blog by Dan at May 11, 2005 10:47 AM
Comments
Thinking back on this, I have to wonder if we're reversing the cause and the effect here. If exercise can fight depression, can the lack of exercise cause depression? Could that be the reason that America has such a high incidence of depression, because we won't get our fat asses off the sofa? I'm not saying it's the sole reason for depression in America, but there seems to have been a surge of it in the last couple of generations, the same period where we have moved to a much more inactive lifestyle.
Just a thought...
Posted by: Dan at July 16, 2005 10:55 AM
Sometimes I find that exercise helps me with depression, but sometimes exercising actually makes me feel MORE depressed.
Posted by: Charlotte at June 23, 2008 03:36 PM