Review: Exercise Is Effective Treatment for Depression
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 21, 2024 -- Exercise is an effective treatment for depression, especially when intense, according to a review published online Feb. 14 in The BMJ.
Michael Noetel, Ph.D., from the University of Queensland in St. Lucia, Australia, and colleagues conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis to identify the optimal dose and modality of exercise for treating major depressive disorder. A total of 218 unique studies with 495 arms and 14,170 participants were included.
The researchers found moderate reductions in depression for walking or jogging, yoga, strength training, mixed aerobic exercises, and tai chi or qigong compared with active controls (e.g., usual care, placebo tablet; (Hedges' g, −0.62, −0.55, −0.49, −0.43, and −0.42, respectively). The impact of exercise was proportional to the intensity. The most acceptable modalities seemed to be strength training and yoga. The results were robust to publication bias; only one study met the Cochrane criteria for a low risk for bias. Confidence in the network meta-analysis was considered low for walking and jogging and very low for other modalities.
"Our findings support the inclusion of exercise as part of clinical practice guidelines for depression, particularly vigorous intensity exercise," the authors write. "Doing so may help bridge the gap in treatment coverage by increasing the range of first-line options for patients and health systems."
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted February 2024
Read this next
Teens May Experience Delays in Bipolar Progression After Major Depressive Disorder
FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- Adolescents may experience delayed bipolar disorder (BD) progression after major depressive disorder (MDD) diagnosis, according to a study published online...
Teen Smartphone Use Positively Tied to Mood
THURSDAY, May 30, 2024 -- Adolescent smartphone use is positively associated with mood, according to a study published online May 29 in PLOS ONE. Matt Minich, Ph.D., and...
Changes in Gender Identity Not Tied to Depressive Symptoms in Youth
WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2024 -- Changes in gender identity are not associated with changes in depressive symptoms over time among sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth, according to a...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.