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06/06/2012
Study Finds Exercise 'No Help For Depression'
New research suggests that combining exercise with conventional treatments for depression does not improve recovery.
Published in the British Medical Journal, the NHS funded study gave some patients help to boost their activity levels in addition to receiving therapy or anti-depressants.
Current guidelines suggest sufferers do up to three exercise sessions a week, however after a year all 361 patients taking part in the study had fewer signs of depression, but there was no difference between the two groups.
"This is a huge disappointment because we were hoping exercise would help lift depression,” said Prof Alan Maryon-Davis, professor of public health, King's College London
“But we need to bear in mind that these were patients already on medication, so it considers exercise on top of medical care. It did not look at mild depression nor did it consider exercise as an alternative to medication.
"The message mustn't be to stop exercising. Exercise has so many other benefits - it is good in terms of heart disease, lowers blood pressure, has a beneficial effect on the balance of fats in the blood, strengthens muscles, and burns up calories. A lot of people who have depression may have other problems too. And an active body helps to produce a healthy mind."
(H)
Published in the British Medical Journal, the NHS funded study gave some patients help to boost their activity levels in addition to receiving therapy or anti-depressants.
Current guidelines suggest sufferers do up to three exercise sessions a week, however after a year all 361 patients taking part in the study had fewer signs of depression, but there was no difference between the two groups.
"This is a huge disappointment because we were hoping exercise would help lift depression,” said Prof Alan Maryon-Davis, professor of public health, King's College London
“But we need to bear in mind that these were patients already on medication, so it considers exercise on top of medical care. It did not look at mild depression nor did it consider exercise as an alternative to medication.
"The message mustn't be to stop exercising. Exercise has so many other benefits - it is good in terms of heart disease, lowers blood pressure, has a beneficial effect on the balance of fats in the blood, strengthens muscles, and burns up calories. A lot of people who have depression may have other problems too. And an active body helps to produce a healthy mind."
(H)
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