Effect of exercise on depression

Abstract

In several recent reviews, exercise and physical activity have been reported to be effective therapeutic strategies for the treatment of depression in adult men and women aged 18 and over. While aerobic exercise appears to be the most effective strategy for alleviating depression in adults, resistance training may represent a more effective strategy for the elderly. However, both the intensity and duration of exercise needed to treat depression effectively remain unclear. Advising patients to exercise for a short duration at a low intensity may represent the most practical strategy; it can also help to prevent fatigue. In the UK, guidelines for exercise therapy have been provided based on evidence obtained from intervention studies. However, few studies have investigated the effect of exercise on depression in Japan. In addition, the most effective method of using exercise as part of an overall psychiatric treatment plan has yet to be determined. In the near future, the effect of exercise on the treatment of depression in Japanese subjects needs to be validated so that evidence-based guidelines for exercise can be developed.