Depression People Sports medicine

People with depression are usually treated with antidepressant medications. Research carried out for 4 years found, the real sufferers of depression medication is ordered for the diligent exercise.

Scientists from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center found that daily intensive training at the secondary level can work as antidepressants. This type of training required depends on patient characteristics, including gender.

This finding is the result of cooperation of the University of Texas Southwestern psychiatrist with the Cooper Institute in Dallas and sponsored by The National Institute of Mental Health.

Beginning in 2003, this study is one of the first controlled investigation in the United States to show that regular exercise routine combined with targeted drugs, which can actually relieve the symptoms of depressive disorders.

"Many people who take antidepressants and then feel better after starting treatment, but they do not feel completely well or as good as they feel before experiencing depression," said Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, professor of psychiatry who led the study.

"This research shows that exercise can be as effective as adding another drug. Many people prefer to use exercise instead of using additional other drugs, particularly because exercise has proven positive effects on health and well-being of a person as a whole," he said as quoted from eurekalert.org Wednesday (08/24/2011).

Study participants ranged in age 18-70 years and diagnosed with depression but not yet received treatment with antidepressant drugs. They were divided into two groups. Each group was asked to do the exercise with different intensity levels for 12 weeks. Practice sessions supervised by trained staff at the Cooper Institute and coupled with training sessions at home.

Participants who on average have been depressed for the past seven years is asked to exercise on a treadmill, bicycle ergometers, or both. Participants were also asked to write an online diary about the frequency and length of practice sessions, and wearing a heart rate monitor while exercising at home. They also see a psychiatrist during the study.

At the end of the investigation, nearly 30 percent of patients in both groups achieving a full recovery from their depression, while 20 percent showed significant improvement of mental condition based on psychological tests.

Moderate exercise is more effective for women who have a family history of mental illness, whereas intense exercise is more effective for women whose families had no history of disease. For men, heavier workout more effective regardless of other characteristics.