Physical activity and exercise as a treatment of depression: Evidence and neurobiological mechanism

TY - CHAP

T1 - Physical activity and exercise as a treatment of depression

T2 - Evidence and neurobiological mechanism

AU - Stubbs, Brendon

AU - Schuch, Felipe

PY - 2019/1/1

Y1 - 2019/1/1

N2 - People with depression experience increased levels of obesity and cardiovascular disease, which may contribute to the premature mortality in this population. While antidepressants and psychotherapeutic interventions can help improve depressive symptoms, their impact on physical health is limited. Physical activity (PA) and exercise are frontline preventive treatments for cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Emerging evidence also demonstrates that PA and physical fitness are important modifiable risk factors for the onset of depression. Moreover, robust evidence now exists demonstrating that exercise can improve depressive symptoms in those with subthreshold depressive symptoms and major depressive disorder. Exercise is well-accepted by people with depression, with relatively low levels of dropout from interventions. A number of hypotheses have been postulated to determine the antidepressant effect of exercise including the anti-inflammatory impact of PA, hippocampal neurogenesis, the impact on brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and psychosocial mechanisms (e.g., improving self-esteem).

AB - People with depression experience increased levels of obesity and cardiovascular disease, which may contribute to the premature mortality in this population. While antidepressants and psychotherapeutic interventions can help improve depressive symptoms, their impact on physical health is limited. Physical activity (PA) and exercise are frontline preventive treatments for cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Emerging evidence also demonstrates that PA and physical fitness are important modifiable risk factors for the onset of depression. Moreover, robust evidence now exists demonstrating that exercise can improve depressive symptoms in those with subthreshold depressive symptoms and major depressive disorder. Exercise is well-accepted by people with depression, with relatively low levels of dropout from interventions. A number of hypotheses have been postulated to determine the antidepressant effect of exercise including the anti-inflammatory impact of PA, hippocampal neurogenesis, the impact on brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and psychosocial mechanisms (e.g., improving self-esteem).

KW - Exercise

KW - Mechanisms

KW - Neurobiological

KW - Physical activity

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85081901921&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/B978-0-12-813333-0.00026-3

DO - 10.1016/B978-0-12-813333-0.00026-3

M3 - Chapter

SN - 9780128133347

SP - 293

EP - 299

BT - Neurobiology of Depression

PB - Elsevier

ER -