Exercise can reduce symptoms of depression almost as much as psychological therapy, an updated Cochrane review shows.
Compared to the effects of antidepressants, exercise also showed a similar effect, but the evidence was of low certainty.
Depression is a leading cause of ill health and disability, affecting more than 280 million people worldwide. Exercise is inexpensive, widely available, and provides additional health benefits, making it an attractive option for patients and caregivers.
The review, carried out by researchers at the University of Lancashire, examined 73 randomized controlled trials, including almost 5,000 adults with depression.
The studies compared exercise without treatment or control interventions, as well as with psychological therapies and antidepressants.
The results showed that exercise can have a moderate benefit in reducing depressive symptoms, compared to no treatment or a control intervention.
Compared to psychological therapy, exercise had a similar effect on depressive symptoms, based on evidence from ten studies.
Comparisons with antidepressants also suggested a similar effect, but the evidence is limited and uncertain. The long-term effects are unclear because few studies followed participants after treatment.
Side effects were rare, including occasional musculoskeletal injuries in those who exercised and typical medication-related effects in those taking antidepressants, such as fatigue and gastrointestinal problems.
Our findings suggest that exercise appears to be a safe and accessible option for controlling symptoms of depression. This suggests that exercise works well for some people, but not for everyone, and finding approaches that individuals are willing and able to maintain is important,” said Professor Andrew Clegg, lead author of the review.
“Exercise can help people with depression, but if we want to discover which types work best, for whom, and whether the benefits last over time, we still need larger, high-quality studies. One large, well-conducted study is much better than numerous small, poor-quality studies with a limited number of participants in each,” he concluded.
