Stathopoulou, Powers, Berry, Smits, and Otto (2006) conducted a meta-analysis of exercise as a treatment for depression. The empirical evidence is convincing that exercise either alone or in combination with other evidence-supported treatment is effective in treating clinically significant depression. The challenge lies in translating the convincing evidence into effective practice. This commentary focuses on the barriers that clinicians encounter in utilizing exercise in the face of depressive symptoms, pessimism, low motivation, and physical inactivity and withdrawal. We also discuss some practical suggestions to enhance the likelihood that patients with depression implement and maintain exercise behaviors to improve their mood .
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.