Physical Activity as a Nonpharmacological Treatment for Depression: A Review

Abstract

Physical activity is increasingly being cited as an alternative to more traditional drug treatments for treating depression. Although an increasing amount of research has investigated this theory, much of the literature has been criticized from a methodological perspective. Given rising concern for the increasing costs of mental health care, it is timely and important to examine valid, reliable, and objective research findings on the potential role of physical activity as a low-cost nonpharmacological intervention for the treatment of depression. This article reviews cross-sectional, longitudinal, and randomized studies that investigated the role of physical activity in the prevention and alleviation of depression. The review found that although there is undoubtedly a need for more research with a greater emphasis on methodological strength, the scientific literature is generally supportive of the beneficial effects of aerobic and nonaerobic exercise on depression in clinically and nonclinically depressed adults. Implications for public health are discussed. OVERVIEWClinical depression affects 2% to 5% of the U.S. population per year (Kessler et al., 1994) and accounts for approximately 6% to 8% of general medical practices (Katon & Schulberg, 1992). The prevalence of this disorder, in conjunction with the cost of drug therapy, traditionally the treatment of choice for depressive symptoms, has significant financial implications for individual and national health care costs. Depressed individuals typically spend 1.5 times more on health care costs than nondepressed individuals and, if undergoing drug therapy, spend up to three times more on outpatient pharmacy costs than non-drug-treated individuals (Simon, VonKorff, & Barlow, 1995). Major depression alone accounts for 6.7 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in the United States, second only to ischemic heart dis- 139

Yoga on Our Minds: A Systematic Review of Yoga for Neuropsychiatric Disorders

“…In healthy individuals, biomarker studies suggest that yoga influences neurotransmitters, inflammation, oxidative stress, lipids, growth factors, and second messengers (Figure 1), in a manner largely similar to what has been shown for anti-depressants and psychotherapy. It is hypothesized that yoga combines the effects of physical postures, which have been independently associated with mood changes (Phillips et al, 2003), and meditation which increases the levels of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF; Xiong and Doraiswamy, 2009). Other effects that have been noted include increased vagal tone, increased gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels, increase in serum prolactin, downregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and decrease in serum cortisol, and promotion of frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha wave activity which improves relaxation (Janakiramaiah et al, 1998, 2000; Kamei et al, 2000; Streeter et al, 2007).…”

Husbands’ and Wives’ Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms: Longitudinal Findings from the Cardiovascular Health Study

“…Prospective studies and clinical trials show that regular physical activity significantly decreases the risk for developing depression [2], alleviates depressive symptoms within individuals [3], and can even reduce depressive symptoms in older patients with major depressive disorder [4]. A variety of mechanisms have been proposed for why physical activity prevents depressive symptoms including that physical activity increases brain neurotransmitters (i.e., monoamines and endorphins) [5], prevents chronic conditions [6], and increases self-esteem [7]. At the same time it is important to understand how these processes are influenced by the social environment, especially marriage in which spouses tend to be similar to one another, engage in many shared activities, and live in the same place [8,9].…”

The Influence of Physiotherapy on Health-Related Quality of Life in Women with Depression

“…Augantis susirûpinimas dël didëjanèiø psichinës sveikatos prieþiûros kainø verèia nagrinëti svarbius galiojanèius, patikimus ir objektyvius moksliniø tyrimø rezultatus dël potencialaus fizinës veiklos vaidmens kaip pigaus nefarmakologinio bûdo depresijai gydyti [10].…”