Running can have the same effect on combating depression and anxiety as using antidepressants, showed a study presented this Friday (6) at the 36th Congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, in Barcelona, Spain.
The work was the first to compare the effect of antidepressants with running exercises for depression and anxiety, which are among the most prevalent in the world population.
Professor Brenda Penninx’s team, from Vrije University, in the Netherlands, selected 141 patients with depression and/or anxiety.
They were offered the possibility of taking an antidepressant (escitalopram) or participating in a group run — 45 chose the first option, and 96, the second.
Members of the group that opted for the antidepressant were slightly more depressed than those who chose to run.
Participants who took escitalopram did so for 16 weeks, the same period in which 45-minute runs were maintained, two or three times a week.
The dropout rate was higher in the physical exercise group, in which 52% remained. 82% of those who took the medicine completed the protocol.
In the end, the researchers found that around 44% of participants in both groups showed some improvement in their depression and anxiety.
They observed, however, that the group that opted for running had improvements in weight, waist circumference, blood pressure and heart function.
On the other hand, individuals who took antidepressants tended to have a slight deterioration in these metabolic markers.
“This study gave anxious and depressed people a real-life choice, medication or exercise,” comments Brenda.
According to the researcher, one alternative does not invalidate the other, making it possible to reconcile the use of antidepressants, when prescribed by a doctor, and physical activity.
“It is important to highlight that there is room for both therapies in the treatment of depression. The study shows that many people like the idea of exercise, but it can be difficult to follow through, even if the benefits are significant.”
She adds that “antidepressants are generally safe and effective,” but that we need to “expand our treatment arsenal, as not all patients respond to antidepressants or are willing to take them.”
“Our results suggest that implementing exercise therapy is something we should take very seriously, as it may be a good — and perhaps even better — choice for some of our patients,” he concludes.
Running can have the same effect on combating depression and anxiety as using antidepressants, showed a study presented this Friday (6) at the 36th Congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, in Barcelona, Spain.
The work was the first to compare the effect of antidepressants with running exercises for depression and anxiety, which are among the most prevalent in the world population.
Professor Brenda Penninx’s team, from Vrije University, in the Netherlands, selected 141 patients with depression and/or anxiety.
They were offered the possibility of taking an antidepressant (escitalopram) or participating in a group run — 45 chose the first option, and 96, the second.
Members of the group that opted for the antidepressant were slightly more depressed than those who chose to run.
Participants who took escitalopram did so for 16 weeks, the same period in which 45-minute runs were maintained, two or three times a week.
The dropout rate was higher in the physical exercise group, in which 52% remained. 82% of those who took the medicine completed the protocol.
In the end, the researchers found that around 44% of participants in both groups showed some improvement in their depression and anxiety.
They observed, however, that the group that opted for running had improvements in weight, waist circumference, blood pressure and heart function.
On the other hand, individuals who took antidepressants tended to have a slight deterioration in these metabolic markers.
“This study gave anxious and depressed people a real-life choice, medication or exercise,” comments Brenda.
According to the researcher, one alternative does not invalidate the other, making it possible to reconcile the use of antidepressants, when prescribed by a doctor, and physical activity.
“It is important to highlight that there is room for both therapies in the treatment of depression. The study shows that many people like the idea of exercise, but it can be difficult to follow through, even if the benefits are significant.”
She adds that “antidepressants are generally safe and effective,” but that we need to “expand our treatment arsenal, as not all patients respond to antidepressants or are willing to take them.”
“Our results suggest that implementing exercise therapy is something we should take very seriously, as it may be a good — and perhaps even better — choice for some of our patients,” he concludes.
