We have known for some time that physical activity has numerous benefits not only for physical health, but also for mental health: in 2023 we told you about a study that proposed physical exercise as a possible alternative to psychotherapy.
Now a review posted on Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews reinforces this idea, showing that exercising is associated with a reduction in depressive symptoms comparable to that achieved with psychotherapy.
Free therapy. The authors reviewed 73 studies on the topic conducted on over 5,000 adults diagnosed with depression, comparing the effects of physical exercise with those of psychotherapy, antidepressant drugs and the absence of treatment. The results highlight that physical activity can reduce depressive symptoms to a degree comparable to psychotherapy: the comparison with drugs suggests a similar effect, but the available evidence is limited and does not allow definitive conclusions to be drawn. “Exercise appears to be a safe and accessible option to help manage the symptoms of depression,” comments Andrew Clegg, research coordinator.
Moderate activity. The greatest benefits appear to come from moderate-intensity physical activity, rather than vigorous exercise. Performing between 13 and 36 exercises per session was associated with a more marked improvement in depressive symptoms; However, it remains unclear which type of movement is most effective, even if programs with mixed exercises and resistance training seem to work better than aerobic exercises alone.
Larger studies. The review is an update of two previous versions, published in 2008 and 2013, to which 35 new studies were added. The conclusions, however, remain unchanged, because most of the experiments analyzed involved small samples with fewer than one hundred participants.
“If we want to understand which types of exercises work best, for whom, and whether the benefits last over time, we need larger, high-quality studies,” concludes Clegg.
