![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by dj on September 23, 2000, at 16:49:20
Exercise beats drug in fighting depression
Margaret Munro
National PostThe Olympic athletes -- and lesser mortals who engage in brisk exercise -- have more than medals lifting their spirits, judging by a new study.
The study, published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine today, confirms that exercise is a potent antidepressant, even better it seems than a widely used medication.
The 156 Americans who participated in the study had been diagnosed with major depression. They were given one of three treatments: regular physical workouts, the antidepressant drug Zoloft or a combination of the two.
The exercising group worked out, at up to 85% of their maximum heart rate, on a treadmill or stationary bicycle for half an hour three times a week. The combination group followed this exercise regimen and also took Zoloft.
After 16 weeks, the three groups had similar results. They all had significantly lower rates of depression, suggesting that exercise was as potent as Zoloft.
After an additional six months, the exercising patients were much less likely to have relapsed. Only 8% of patients in the exercise group saw their depression return, compared to 38% of the drug-only group and 31% of the exercise-plus-drug group.
"The important conclusion is that the effectiveness of exercise seems to persist over time, and that patients who respond well to exercise and maintain their exercise have a much smaller risk of relapsing," said James Blumenthal, the lead researcher, who is a psychologist at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina.
The results, he says, "indicate that a modest exercise program is an effective and robust treatment for patients with major depression. And if these motivated patients continue with their exercise, they have a much better chance of not seeing their depression return."
The researchers say they were surprised that the patients who exercised responded better than the folks who coupled medication with exercise. "We had assumed that exercise and medication together would have had an additive effect, but this turned out not to be the case," says Blumenthal.
The reason may be that the exercising patients take an active role in trying to get better. "Simply taking a pill is very passive," says Blumenthal. "Patients who exercised may have felt a greater sense of mastery over their condition and gained a greater sense of accomplishment."
And once patients start feeling better, they tend to exercise more, which makes them feel even better, Blumenthal said.
The researchers do not see exercise as a panacea that will lift everyone's depression. The study, they note, did not include patients who were acutely suicidal or suffered from "psychotic" depression.
Also the study may have been slightly biased because patients who volunteered for the study were motivated to get better and were interested in exercise.
Researchers used the antidepressant sertraline, which is sold under the trade name Zoloft, and is one of the most commonly used antidepressants on the market.
Because up to one-third of depressed patients may not respond to drug therapy and many people complain of side effects, Blumenthal says it is important to find other approaches for treating depression.
Chemical imbalances in the brain are known to cause depression, but the researchers say in older people it can also be triggered by abnormalities in blood vessels in the brain.
To get a better read on how exercise helps lifts the demons of depression, Blumenthal and his colleagues plan a new study with some subjects exercising at home. This may determine how much of the benefit was derived from exercise and how much came from the supportive atmosphere at the exercise centre.
> > > > > > >
Now if I could only get out of this chair...
Posted by CarolAnn on September 24, 2000, at 9:08:11
In reply to One study's perspective - Exercise beats drug in f, posted by dj on September 23, 2000, at 16:49:20
> Now if I could only get out of this chair...
DITTO!
Posted by tina on September 24, 2000, at 10:12:03
In reply to One study's perspective - Exercise beats drug in f, posted by dj on September 23, 2000, at 16:49:20
I exercise 6 days a week and still suffer extremely from the effects of depression dj. Sorry, but there's always the exception to the rule and I guess it's me. I don't think exercise is a panacea for depression. It isn't for me anyway. Interesting article though.
> Exercise beats drug in fighting depression
>
>
> Margaret Munro
> National Post
>
> The Olympic athletes -- and lesser mortals who engage in brisk exercise -- have more than medals lifting their spirits, judging by a new study.
>
> The study, published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine today, confirms that exercise is a potent antidepressant, even better it seems than a widely used medication.
>
> The 156 Americans who participated in the study had been diagnosed with major depression. They were given one of three treatments: regular physical workouts, the antidepressant drug Zoloft or a combination of the two.
>
> The exercising group worked out, at up to 85% of their maximum heart rate, on a treadmill or stationary bicycle for half an hour three times a week. The combination group followed this exercise regimen and also took Zoloft.
>
> After 16 weeks, the three groups had similar results. They all had significantly lower rates of depression, suggesting that exercise was as potent as Zoloft.
>
> After an additional six months, the exercising patients were much less likely to have relapsed. Only 8% of patients in the exercise group saw their depression return, compared to 38% of the drug-only group and 31% of the exercise-plus-drug group.
>
> "The important conclusion is that the effectiveness of exercise seems to persist over time, and that patients who respond well to exercise and maintain their exercise have a much smaller risk of relapsing," said James Blumenthal, the lead researcher, who is a psychologist at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina.
>
> The results, he says, "indicate that a modest exercise program is an effective and robust treatment for patients with major depression. And if these motivated patients continue with their exercise, they have a much better chance of not seeing their depression return."
>
> The researchers say they were surprised that the patients who exercised responded better than the folks who coupled medication with exercise. "We had assumed that exercise and medication together would have had an additive effect, but this turned out not to be the case," says Blumenthal.
>
> The reason may be that the exercising patients take an active role in trying to get better. "Simply taking a pill is very passive," says Blumenthal. "Patients who exercised may have felt a greater sense of mastery over their condition and gained a greater sense of accomplishment."
>
> And once patients start feeling better, they tend to exercise more, which makes them feel even better, Blumenthal said.
>
> The researchers do not see exercise as a panacea that will lift everyone's depression. The study, they note, did not include patients who were acutely suicidal or suffered from "psychotic" depression.
>
> Also the study may have been slightly biased because patients who volunteered for the study were motivated to get better and were interested in exercise.
>
> Researchers used the antidepressant sertraline, which is sold under the trade name Zoloft, and is one of the most commonly used antidepressants on the market.
>
> Because up to one-third of depressed patients may not respond to drug therapy and many people complain of side effects, Blumenthal says it is important to find other approaches for treating depression.
>
> Chemical imbalances in the brain are known to cause depression, but the researchers say in older people it can also be triggered by abnormalities in blood vessels in the brain.
>
> To get a better read on how exercise helps lifts the demons of depression, Blumenthal and his colleagues plan a new study with some subjects exercising at home. This may determine how much of the benefit was derived from exercise and how much came from the supportive atmosphere at the exercise centre.
>
> > > > > > > >
>
> Now if I could only get out of this chair...
Posted by Phil on September 24, 2000, at 10:43:01
In reply to Re: One study's perspective - Exercise beats drug in f, posted by tina on September 24, 2000, at 10:12:03
dj, I can't remember the world-class marathoners name off hand but he was one of the best.
He won several major marathons in his career but at some point slipped into a depression, wasn't training, etc.
Several years ago, his doc put him on Prozac and he went on to win a 100 mile ultra-marathon and was back to 'normal'. He was once again racing and training with a lot of enthusiasm.
Depression is, as you well know, a physical, mental, and spiritual disease. Taking a drug and ignoring diet, exercise, spirituality, and getting your needs met is not gonna get it done.
Also, too many depressed people will take up walking then advance to running and will become addicted to the runner's high and just push way too hard. I did this myself when I was off meds and eventually started getting more depressed every time I ran.
I'm currently WALKING on a treadmill or outside and trying to do 3 miles in about 45 minutes at least 4 times a week. And making myself NOT JOG!!
I'm taking 45mg Remeron, 2.5mg Klonopin, and 20-40mg Ritalin a day and I'm losing a little weight!!
Oh, the runner was Alberto Salazar.Phil
Posted by Phil on September 24, 2000, at 10:50:25
In reply to Re: One study's perspective - Exercise beats drug in f, posted by Phil on September 24, 2000, at 10:43:01
dj, The hardest thing in my life is to not take life so seriously and to learn how to have fun.
I absolutely suck in those areas. I usually feel guilty when I reward myself or have fun so I tend to avoid it!! Crazy way to live.
Thanks for all your input on Babble.
PJ
Posted by shar on September 24, 2000, at 21:42:48
In reply to One study's perspective - Exercise beats drug in f, posted by dj on September 23, 2000, at 16:49:20
My bet is the supportive atmosphere at the exercise center had a LOT to do with folks feeling better (plus endorphins, of course). I would exercise if I knew someone was waiting to cheer me on whilst I cycled (in the air conditioning)!
S
> Exercise beats drug in fighting depression
>
>
> Margaret Munro
> National Post
>
> The Olympic athletes -- and lesser mortals who engage in brisk exercise -- have more than medals lifting their spirits, judging by a new study.
>
> The study, published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine today, confirms that exercise is a potent antidepressant, even better it seems than a widely used medication.
>
> The 156 Americans who participated in the study had been diagnosed with major depression. They were given one of three treatments: regular physical workouts, the antidepressant drug Zoloft or a combination of the two.
>
> The exercising group worked out, at up to 85% of their maximum heart rate, on a treadmill or stationary bicycle for half an hour three times a week. The combination group followed this exercise regimen and also took Zoloft.
>
> After 16 weeks, the three groups had similar results. They all had significantly lower rates of depression, suggesting that exercise was as potent as Zoloft.
>
> After an additional six months, the exercising patients were much less likely to have relapsed. Only 8% of patients in the exercise group saw their depression return, compared to 38% of the drug-only group and 31% of the exercise-plus-drug group.
>
> "The important conclusion is that the effectiveness of exercise seems to persist over time, and that patients who respond well to exercise and maintain their exercise have a much smaller risk of relapsing," said James Blumenthal, the lead researcher, who is a psychologist at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina.
>
> The results, he says, "indicate that a modest exercise program is an effective and robust treatment for patients with major depression. And if these motivated patients continue with their exercise, they have a much better chance of not seeing their depression return."
>
> The researchers say they were surprised that the patients who exercised responded better than the folks who coupled medication with exercise. "We had assumed that exercise and medication together would have had an additive effect, but this turned out not to be the case," says Blumenthal.
>
> The reason may be that the exercising patients take an active role in trying to get better. "Simply taking a pill is very passive," says Blumenthal. "Patients who exercised may have felt a greater sense of mastery over their condition and gained a greater sense of accomplishment."
>
> And once patients start feeling better, they tend to exercise more, which makes them feel even better, Blumenthal said.
>
> The researchers do not see exercise as a panacea that will lift everyone's depression. The study, they note, did not include patients who were acutely suicidal or suffered from "psychotic" depression.
>
> Also the study may have been slightly biased because patients who volunteered for the study were motivated to get better and were interested in exercise.
>
> Researchers used the antidepressant sertraline, which is sold under the trade name Zoloft, and is one of the most commonly used antidepressants on the market.
>
> Because up to one-third of depressed patients may not respond to drug therapy and many people complain of side effects, Blumenthal says it is important to find other approaches for treating depression.
>
> Chemical imbalances in the brain are known to cause depression, but the researchers say in older people it can also be triggered by abnormalities in blood vessels in the brain.
>
> To get a better read on how exercise helps lifts the demons of depression, Blumenthal and his colleagues plan a new study with some subjects exercising at home. This may determine how much of the benefit was derived from exercise and how much came from the supportive atmosphere at the exercise centre.
>
> > > > > > > >
>
> Now if I could only get out of this chair...
Posted by dj on September 25, 2000, at 23:03:03
In reply to Re: dj..ps, posted by Phil on September 24, 2000, at 10:50:25
>I usually feel guilty when I reward myself or have fun so I tend to avoid it!! Crazy way to >live.
Phil,
Isn't it though? I wish I had some solutions for all of us! More questions than answers unfortunately... : (> Thanks for all your input on Babble.
> PJAnd you as well!!
Sante!
dj
Posted by bat70 on October 23, 2000, at 15:08:17
In reply to Re: One study's perspective - Exercise beats drug in f, posted by Phil on September 24, 2000, at 10:43:01
> dj, I can't remember the world-class marathoners name off hand but he was one of the best.
> He won several major marathons in his career but at some point slipped into a depression, wasn't training, etc.
> Several years ago, his doc put him on Prozac and he went on to win a 100 mile ultra-marathon and was back to 'normal'. He was once again racing and training with a lot of enthusiasm.
> Depression is, as you well know, a physical, mental, and spiritual disease. Taking a drug and ignoring diet, exercise, spirituality, and getting your needs met is not gonna get it done.
> Also, too many depressed people will take up walking then advance to running and will become addicted to the runner's high and just push way too hard. I did this myself when I was off meds and eventually started getting more depressed every time I ran.
> I'm currently WALKING on a treadmill or outside and trying to do 3 miles in about 45 minutes at least 4 times a week. And making myself NOT JOG!!
> I'm taking 45mg Remeron, 2.5mg Klonopin, and 20-40mg Ritalin a day and I'm losing a little weight!!
> Oh, the runner was Alberto Salazar.
>
> PhilExercise and Remeron:
I have just started to take remeron...I read hear and thru other areas that low doses tend to cause weight gain more than high doses...My question to the masses: What exercises have helped to keep the weight off? I use stairclimber/ elliptical precor machine and lift weight usually 3 times a week for about an hour total (cardio only about 15 minutes due to asthma)...anybody have input on how to keep the weight from coming on?
Thanks
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.