Exercise and Mental Health

“Usually, within five minutes after moderate exercise you get a mood-enhancement effect” (Quoting Michael Otto, Ph.D., p. 49).“But the effects of physical activity extend beyond the short-term. Research shows that exercise can also help alleviate long-term depression” (p. 49).

Weir, K. (December 2011). The Exercise Effect. Monitor On Psychology,

42(11), 49-52.

Exercise and Mental Health

“The efficacy of exercise in patients seems generally comparable with patients receiving antidepressant medication and both tend to be better than the placebo in patients with MDD. Placebo response rates were high, suggesting that a considerable portion of the therapeutic response is determined by patient expectations, ongoing symptom monitoring, attention, and other nonspecific factors” (p 587).

Blumenthal, J.A., et al. (2007). Exercise and Pharmacotherapy in The Treatment of major Depressive Disorder. Psychosomatic Medicine, 69(7), 587-596.