Major depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States and in 2013, an estimated 15.7 million adults aged 18 or older had at least one major depressive episode in the past year (National Institute of Mental Health, 2013) According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the rate of antidepressant use in this country among teens and adults increased by almost 400% between 1988–1994 and 2005–2008 and it is estimated that about one in every 10 Americans takes an antidepressant (Wehrwein, 2011). Although options for pharmacologic treatment have expanded significantly in the past 20 years, between one- and two-thirds of patients will not respond to the first antidepressant prescribed, and 15 to 33% will not
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Studies going as far back as the early 1980’s have shown that regular exercise can improve mood in people with mild to moderate depression and also play a part in treating severe depression (“Exercise and Depression,” 2009). Exercise compares favorably to antidepressant medications as a first-line treatment for mild to moderate depression and has also been shown to improve depressive symptoms when used in addition to medications (Carek, Laibstain, & Carek, 2011). One study divided 156 men and women with depression into three groups. One group took part in an aerobic exercise program, another took the SSRI sertraline (Zoloft), and a third did both. At the 16-week mark, depression had eased in all three groups. About 60%–70% of the people in all three groups could no longer be classed as having major depression. The quickest response occurred in the group taking antidepressants but the response for the exercise group was the same over time (“Exercise and Depression,” …show more content…
Imaging studies have identified structural changes associated with early onset depression in the hippocampus, amygdala, striatum, and frontal cortex (Carek, Laibstain, & Carek, 2011). Depressed patients have decreased hippocampal volume and antidepressant medications promote hippocampal neurogenesis (Carek, Laibstain, & carek, 2011). It has been hypothesized that exercise also increases hippocampal neurogenesis, therefore reducing depression (Carek, Laibstain, & Stephen,
Studies going as far back as the early 1980’s have shown that regular exercise can improve mood in people with mild to moderate depression and also play a part in treating severe depression (“Exercise and Depression,” 2009). Exercise compares favorably to antidepressant medications as a first-line treatment for mild to moderate depression and has also been shown to improve depressive symptoms when used in addition to medications (Carek, Laibstain, & Carek, 2011). One study divided 156 men and women with depression into three groups. One group took part in an aerobic exercise program, another took the SSRI sertraline (Zoloft), and a third did both. At the 16-week mark, depression had eased in all three groups. About 60%–70% of the people in all three groups could no longer be classed as having major depression. The quickest response occurred in the group taking antidepressants but the response for the exercise group was the same over time (“Exercise and Depression,” …show more content…
Imaging studies have identified structural changes associated with early onset depression in the hippocampus, amygdala, striatum, and frontal cortex (Carek, Laibstain, & Carek, 2011). Depressed patients have decreased hippocampal volume and antidepressant medications promote hippocampal neurogenesis (Carek, Laibstain, & carek, 2011). It has been hypothesized that exercise also increases hippocampal neurogenesis, therefore reducing depression (Carek, Laibstain, & Stephen,