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Aerobic exercise has antidepressant treatment effects

Date:
October 18, 2018
Source:
Wiley
Summary:
An analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials indicates that supervised aerobic exercise has large antidepressant treatment effects for patients with major depression.
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An analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials indicates that supervised aerobic exercise has large antidepressant treatment effects for patients with major depression. The systematic review and meta-analysis is published in Depression and Anxiety.

Across 11 eligible trials involving 455 adult patients (18-65 years old) with major depression as a primary disorder, supervised aerobic exercise was performed on average for 45 minutes, at moderate intensity, 3 times per week, and for 9.2 weeks. It showed a significantly large overall antidepressant effect compared with antidepressant medication and/or psychological therapies.

Also, aerobic exercise revealed moderate-to-large antidepressant effects among trials with lower risk of bias, as well as large antidepressant effects among trials with short-term interventions (up to 4 weeks) and trials involving preferences for exercise.

Subgroup analyses revealed comparable effects for aerobic exercise across various settings and delivery formats, and in both outpatients and inpatients regardless of symptom severity.

"Collectively, this study has found that supervised aerobic exercise can significantly support major depression treatment in mental health services," said lead author Dr. Ioannis D. Morres, of the University of Thessaly, in Greece.


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Materials provided by Wiley. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Ioannis D. Morres, Antonis Hatzigeorgiadis, Afroditi Stathi, Nikos Comoutos, Chantal Arpin-Cribbie, Charalampos Krommidas, Yannis Theodorakis. Aerobic exercise for adult patients with major depressive disorder in mental health services: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Depression and Anxiety, 2018; DOI: 10.1002/da.22842

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Wiley. "Aerobic exercise has antidepressant treatment effects." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 18 October 2018. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181018125207.htm>.
Wiley. (2018, October 18). Aerobic exercise has antidepressant treatment effects. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181018125207.htm
Wiley. "Aerobic exercise has antidepressant treatment effects." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181018125207.htm (accessed March 18, 2024).

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