Exercise is as Effective as Medication in Treating Depression, Study Finds (npr.org) 79
A major new review by the Cochrane collaboration -- an independent network of researchers -- evaluated 73 randomized controlled trials involving about 5,000 people with depression and found that exercise matched the effectiveness of both pharmacological treatments and psychological therapies.
The biological mechanisms overlap considerably with antidepressants. "Exercise can help improve neurotransmitter function, like serotonin as well as dopamine and endorphins," said Dr. Stephen Mateka, medical director of psychiatry at Inspira Health. Dr. Nicholas Fabiano of the University of Ottawa added that exercise triggers the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, which he calls "Miracle-Gro for the brain."
Exercise has been adopted as a first-line treatment in depression guidelines globally, though Fabiano noted it remains underutilized. The meta-analysis found that combining aerobic exercise and resistance training appeared more effective than aerobic exercise alone, and that 13 to 36 workouts led to improvements in depressive symptoms. Light to moderate exercise proved as beneficial as vigorous workouts, at least initially.
The biological mechanisms overlap considerably with antidepressants. "Exercise can help improve neurotransmitter function, like serotonin as well as dopamine and endorphins," said Dr. Stephen Mateka, medical director of psychiatry at Inspira Health. Dr. Nicholas Fabiano of the University of Ottawa added that exercise triggers the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, which he calls "Miracle-Gro for the brain."
Exercise has been adopted as a first-line treatment in depression guidelines globally, though Fabiano noted it remains underutilized. The meta-analysis found that combining aerobic exercise and resistance training appeared more effective than aerobic exercise alone, and that 13 to 36 workouts led to improvements in depressive symptoms. Light to moderate exercise proved as beneficial as vigorous workouts, at least initially.
I find trolls depressing (Score:1)
But you feed them and propagate their vacuous Subjects. I do think you might have been going for funny, but is failure to be funny sufficient reason? Seems to be my own purpose on Slashdot these years? I'm just writing...
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"Do you realize how depressing it is to see things you strongly disagree with online, but be banned from expressing yourself?"
Well, there's your problem, injecting your opinion at all. Don't do that. I used to have a Karma of "Terrible" and was also restricted. Then I started posting about raw science that I did know something about, got uprated reviews, and my Karma is now Excellent. I have opinions on lots of political things, but use Facebook to annoy my friends, rather than posting here. Try it
Wonder (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Wonder (Score:5, Insightful)
Then the problem is to get active if you are depressed. It's next to impossible.
Re: Wonder (Score:3)
Re: Wonder (Score:3)
Ugh this. My job is difficult and depressing. After a day of it I just want to distract myself from existence.
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Re: Wonder (Score:4, Insightful)
I invested in a rowing machine to use at home and it made all the difference as I was never going to get myself to a gym on a regular basis. Dont know if that would be a useful idea for you or not though.
I chose a rowing machine out of all of the single exercise machines out there because it does the closest to a full body workout of any of them in case you or anyone was wondering.
Re: Wonder (Score:2)
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I like the single exercise option I get from the rowing machine. It lets me stumble out of the bed in the morning, rock out some reps with a single full body exercise and then get on with my day. I bet you're getting a better upper body workout than me given the ability to focus on different body parts though.
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I had the same problem. Then I started using a bicycle for commuting, although the conditions in my city are far less than ideal.
Now I have to exercise both before and after a long day and I never regretted it.
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It's only impossible for the short period of time it takes for your body to realize the benefits and 'crave' it. Also, exercise can be as simple as take a walk. It's amazing how just getting out for 30 minutes can put your day in perspective and clear your head. If you REALLY need incentive, get a dog. They're creatures of habit and won't take 'no' for an answer when it's their time for their walk.
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A person who's depressed can still ex
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You just need someone external to push you.
You take grannies advice, go take a walk you lazy waste of space.
See the berating and insulting are actually important too. They drive off you apathy for anger just long enough to get you moving (the real cure). People are messed up today because everyone is always validating their feels. They need someone in their lives who will tell them, hey what your feeling is WRONG, now go 'sort yourself out'
Re:Wonder (Score:5, Insightful)
I have been more or less depressed since I was a child.
I always led a pretty sedentary life.
In my late 30s, I started walking a lot, hitting my 10k nearly every day. I am in my late 40's now and my depression is quite manageable. I am consistently in a much better mood than I was in my earlier years. I have also lost quite a bit of weight (went from 250-270 to 200-210) and my lower back pain is nearly gone too.
So, there you go. Just get outside (preferably; vitamin D is very important) or get on the treadmill. You don't need to run or jog, just walk, that's it.
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Just get outside (preferably; vitamin D is very important) or get on the treadmill. You don't need to run or jog, just walk, that's it.
That only works in places where agreeable weather is a frequent occurrence. Most of the year, the weather outdoors in Florida is actively trying to kill you. Going outside pretty much requires being inside an air conditioned car.
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Medicine is as effective as exercise for depression?
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I bought a concept2 rowing machine and some weights about 4 years ago.
I row 4 days a week adding up to just over 16km, tracked on my phone which I find motivational and am up to about 2300km
I suffered from the black dog on and off for a long time but having read this article have just thought, wow been long time since I’ve been depressed!
Interesting. Now I’ve just got to stop weekend drinking!
well... (Score:4, Funny)
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I lift weights. 12 ounces at a time.
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I lift weights. 12 ounces at a time.
It isn't the weight that counts, it's the reps. I salute you
Re: well... (Score:2)
Only to start though...
Re: well... (Score:2)
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"Does walking to the fridge and car count as exercise?"
Of course. Park your car one mile away and put the refrigerator one mile in the opposite direction.
Gym (Score:2)
Re: Gym (Score:1)
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That's why you can use headphone and/or watch TVs at the gym. Accomplish two time wasting things at once and you can justify each by pretending you're being efficient with your time.
Or think like a rich bastard. Record yourself at the gym and put it online as a 'workout with me' small business. Now your gym membership becomes a business expense and you can tell everyone you're a business owner. Get financing. Using AI to change the backgrounds of your few workout videos and re-post them. Now you can s
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Exercise can be good for you (surprise!) (Score:5, Informative)
Re: Exercise can be good for you (surprise!) (Score:1)
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The executive summary seems to be to just get out and walk more (or whatever exercise that you choose).
Having been a long time Disney annual passholder, my own personal experience is that the walking part of visiting the parks never stops sucking. If I could just teleport myself around to the various attractions and snack kiosks, I would. Yeah, I realize they do rent those mobility scooters, but they're expensive and people give you judgey looks for not walking (which kind of tells you how they feel about having to walk all day, too).
People who claim to genuinely enjoy exercise either are wired differently
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I think it's just a state of mind.
I find that if you don't think about the destination or end goal, it gets a lot easier. In other words, don't think about how far you still have to go because that will quickly overwhelm you.
In the immortal words of Rush: The point of a journey is not to arrive.
Obligatory Simpsons Reference (Score:2)
The only thing more effective is regular exercise. [youtube.com]
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Seems doubtful.
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Though quite cromulent to the discussion.
So, they're all equally... (Score:1)
...ineffective
Medication doesn't work. The theorized mechanism of SSRIs has been disproven.
Talk therapy doesn't work
It's still an open problem
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Re:So, they're all equally... (Score:4, Insightful)
The theorized mechanism of SSRIs has been disproven.
That doesn't make it ineffective. It makes it unknown. They don't have to know why it works to overcome the placebo effect and have successful clinical trials.
If people who were depressed could will themselves to get out and exercise, they could be cured without it. Unfortunately, that's exactly what depression makes it hard for people to do. This is why medication like SSRIs should be paired with exercise at the point where they can get going with it and before discontinuing the medicine.
Job-related burnout, I believe, is a variation on clinical depression. Or a stop along the way. And I can state with certainty that physical exercise works for this. It's amazing how fast it can help with mental clarity too. Even being out of shape.
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Correct. But it's more and more looking like inflammation or an inflammation-related effect. All of the random depression treatments are also anti-inflammatory or high-energy use.
Magnesium cured my multi-decades long clinical depression. That treatment is take magnesium supplements for 3 weeks and you'll either be cured or not. My depression simply faded away around week 2 and now it's impossible for me to dwell in those oddly comforting yet depressive thoughts. When depressed, it feels 'good' to wallo
Of course it works. (Score:5, Insightful)
Anything that represents taking control of some component of your life will have this effect. Exercise is one of these. For others it might be cleaning the home that is neglected while depressed. Taking control of the environment surrounding you helps to take a bit of control over your internal environment. Basically any thing that pulls some control back from the universe and into yourself has great benefit.
I'm not saying it was wasteful to study. It's not. Good for them. But the conclusion can be found rampant through literature on mental health.
Re:Of course it works. (Score:5, Insightful)
It's a self-perpetuating cycle. Depression makes it very hard to take control and do things. People think of it as an illness of sadness but that's not really what it is. Depression and ADHD both have a lot in common with relation to serotonin and dopamine. Executive dysfunction is the umbrella term for not being able to initiate even simple tasks that bring happiness. Medication is a good way to get you started, but modern medical practice tends to just stay with medicine instead of using something else to continue the treatment and get you back off the medicine.
Exercise, plus... (Score:1)
THAT is the cure for depression, and anything else ( apart from sports-related injuries ).
Can vouch for its modest short-term effects. (Score:1)
Great, it works on depression. I can vouch for that.
So, how to get motivated to work out when the depression's got you by the yarballs?
Ahahha.... no answer for that one, right?
Now, find me one that works with PTSD.
Sometimes I feel the psychology and psychiatry fields are populated with naught but charlatans.
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Life requires effort, film at 11.
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Cause and effect (Score:4, Insightful)
Maybe it is the other way around. At the time when the depressions starts to lift, people can get around to be more active, and also do more exercise. Once the depression is over, they look back and see that as soon as they started exercising, things started to get better.
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Maybe it is the other way around. At the time when the depressions starts to lift, people can get around to be more active, and also do more exercise.
That's basically like those "diet soda makes you fat" studies. Because if you have the willpower to stick to a diet of rice cakes and kale, you'd probably be able to kick the soda addiction, too.
Exercise requires a mind-over-matter mentality to enjoy, because exerting physical effort for no immediate reward, sucks. Anyone who has managed to get themselves into that state of mind probably is already on the path to overcoming depression.
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No the causation is pretty damn clear in this case. You can measure the chemical response in the body from exercise. Exercise releases endorphins (this has been known for over 4 decades), and endorphins are mood elevators (this has been known for 6 decades).
The only thing new about this study is the comparison between exercise and medication.
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It's bidirectional. Being depressed often is accompanied by losing control of your evnvironment/health/fitness. Reasserting control over these things in small steps can move you away from depression.
Why if you cannot phyically excersize? (Score:2)
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I have questions (Score:3)
Just a few questions before I go off my meds and hit the gym...
1. I know several fit people who exercise regularly, yet are still depressed. Should they take meds or do they just need to exercise even more?
2. Does exercise have a long term effect? Say, I'm sedentary and depressed. I resolve to go to the gym more, and I actually stick with it. The depression goes away. Now, if I keep up with the exercise can I expect the depression to stay away? Or will the depression return as I become accustomed to the new brain chemical levels brought about by the exercise? Another way to put it, does the effect depend more on the absolute *level* of these brain chemicals, or the relative *change* in levels? And does the effect disappear once the novelty of the higher levels wears off?
If it sounds like I simply don't want to get off my butt and exercise more, then yeah, guilty as charged. But I also want to make sure this isn't just a way to blame the person suffering the depression. "You're depressed? You should exercise more!" "Still depressed? Exercise even *MORE*!" One thing that pisses me off in gyms is the sort of motivational poster that reads something like, "Keep pushing! You can always do MORE exercise!" At some point, enough is enough. How much exercise does someone need to get before they can in good conscience say, this isn't working? Maybe it's time to try the medicine? Without having the world shout at you, "Just exercise more, you lazy bastard!"
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1 - are people on drugs 'not depressed'? Odds are they'd be a LOT worse off if they stopped exercising. More might help more, that varies.
2 - it shouldn't wear off. If you don't push yourself, the benefits will not be as great. Say you have a lifting routine, and do exactly the same thing, without increase the weights, for weeks or months. That would start to stagnate, and probably have less of a benefit. (Still better than nothing.) Increasing the weight, along with seeing gains and seeing progression in y
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But.... (Score:2)
But what if I'm too depressed to exercise?
It's Not Just Depression (Score:2)
Exercise is the fountain if youth, literally. No, you wont regress dramatically to your original weight of 6 lbs 7 oz, but wow, it is amazing anyway.
I developed "Dual Pulmonary Emboli", 2 blood clots, one in each artery to each lung 11 years ago. I survived only because for the previous 10 months I had been pumping the dinghies out of elliptical crosstrainers at a health club in Fredericksburg, Va., and so my heart was amazingly strong, at least for someone who was 67 years old. I was told the same thi
Not that simple (Score:2)
Exercise is always a good thing to engage in, but the thesis feels a bit ignorant, even dismissive of other elements that contribute to depression. For example, metabolic or nutritional absorption problems. Dr. Abram Hoffer's research applies here -- where he treated some with higher doses of niacin, and his thesis was that many people that present with psychiatric troubles are in fact suffering from metabolic or nutritional deficits. And this is just one example I can think of. Hoffer's work has been
So? (Score:2)
I read all about it. I believe it. It's a good theory. Unfortunately, I am too depressed to exercise.