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Exercise vs SSRIs for Depression
Recent studies have explored the comparative effectiveness of physical exercise and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in treating depression. A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis found no significant difference between exercise and pharmacological interventions in reducing depressive symptoms among adults with non-severe depression, suggesting that exercise can serve as an alternative or adjunct treatment in such cases.
Further research indicates that various forms of exercise, including walking, jogging, yoga, and strength training, are effective treatments for depression, with more intense activities yielding greater benefits. These forms of exercise were found to be particularly effective and well-tolerated compared to other treatments.
Additionally, a study comparing running therapy to antidepressants reported comparable effects on mental health outcomes. However, running therapy demonstrated superior benefits for physical health, attributed to both improvements in the exercise group and deterioration in the antidepressant group.
Collectively, these findings support the consideration of exercise as a viable alternative or complementary treatment for non-severe depression, offering comparable mental health benefits to SSRIs while also enhancing physical health.
Noetel M, Sanders T, Gallardo-Gómez D, Taylor P, Del Pozo Cruz B, van den Hoek D, Smith JJ, Mahoney J, Spathis J, Moresi M, Pagano R, Pagano L, Vasconcellos R, Arnott H, Varley B, Parker P, Biddle S, Lonsdale C. Effect of exercise for depression: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ. 2024 Feb 14;384:e075847. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2023-075847. Erratum in: BMJ. 2024 May 28;385:q1024. doi: 10.1136/bmj.q1024. PMID: 38355154; PMCID: PMC10870815.
Recchia F, Leung CK, Chin EC, Fong DY, Montero D, Cheng CP, Yau SY, Siu PM. Comparative effectiveness of exercise, antidepressants and their combination in treating non-severe depression: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Br J Sports Med. 2022 Dec;56(23):1375-1380. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2022-105964. Epub 2022 Sep 16. PMID: 36113975; PMCID: PMC9685718.
Verhoeven JE, Han LKM, Lever-van Milligen BA, Hu MX, Révész D, Hoogendoorn AW, Batelaan NM, van Schaik DJF, van Balkom AJLM, van Oppen P, Penninx BWJH. Antidepressants or running therapy: Comparing effects on mental and physical health in patients with depression and anxiety disorders. J Affect Disord. 2023 May 15;329:19-29. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.02.064. Epub 2023 Feb 23. PMID: 36828150.
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ADHD - Medication vs Exercise
Anxiety - Medication or Exercise
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