When a person becomes clinically depressed, the typical treatment is to prescribe anti-depressants to provide short-term symptom relief and to enroll the patient in psychotherapy to address the underlying issues that cause depression. However, prescribed medications can have unpleasant side effects, and psychotherapy can be expensive and takes time to get results. For these reasons, alternative treatments for depression are being actively pursued within the psychological community.
In previous posts, I have shared current research that delves into alternative treatments for depression, treatments that may be used in lieu of or as add-ons to traditional interventions (click here for posts on tDCS, gaming, and prayer). One area of research points to the benefits of exercise in alleviating depression. However, it is still unclear by what mechanism exercise can reduce depression.
Ross and colleagues reviewed current research to understand the biological mechanisms that explain its effectiveness at reducing depression. According to the authors, “exercise has been found to have a moderate to large anti-depressant effect when compared to no treatment or control groups” (p. 3). It has even been found to be “no more or less effective when compared to pharmacological or psychological therapies” (p. 3).
Are all types of exercise equally beneficial? Does duration and frequency of exercise matter? According to the review, both aerobic and resistance exercise have anti-depressant effects yet continue to be underutilized in the treatment of depression. Resistance training, which may be as beneficial as aerobic exercise, has been studied less so both resistance and aerobic exercise are recommended. To achieve the best anti-depressant effects, the authors recommend 45-60 minutes of exercise/day at moderate to vigorous intensity for 3-5 days per week.
Although exercise is not currently recommended as a stand-alone treatment for depressed patients, it certainly has benefits as an add-on or adjunctive treatment in combination with pharmacology and/or psychotherapy. Exercise does contribute to mental health and may reduce the likelihood a person will descend into a depressive episode. Exercise provides additional benefits for cardiovascular health and disease prevention, therefore, it should be prescribed alongside traditional treatments. With further research, we may learn more about the mechanisms by which exercise benefits the neurochemistry of brain health.
Citation: Ross, R. E., VanDerwerker, C. J., Saladin, M. E., & Gregory, C. M. (2023). The role of exercise in the treatment of depression: Biological underpinnings and clinical outcomes. Molecular Psychiatry, 28, 298-328. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-022-01819-w
©Jennie Dilworth, Ph.D