Two clinical trials have been conducted in a sample of depressed patients to determine whether the addition of an aerobic exercise programme to their usual treatment improved outcome after 12 weeks. In the first trial, an aerobic exercise group had a superior outcome compared with a control group in terms of trait anxiety and a standard psychiatric interview. A second trial was then conducted to compare an aerobic exercise programme with low intensity exercise. Both groups showed improvement but there were no significant differences between the groups. In neither trial was there any correlation between the extent of change in the subjects' physical fitness due to aerobic exercise and the extent of the improvement of psychiatric scores.
de VealeDMWC. Exercise and mental health. Acta Psychiatr Scand1987; 76: 113–20
2.
GreistJHKleinMHEischensRRFarisJJMorganWP. Running as a treatment for depression. Compr Psychiatry1979; 20: 41–54
3.
KleinMHGreistJHGurmanASNeimeyerRALesserDPBushnellA. A comparative outcome study of group psychotherapy vs exercise treatment for depression. Int J Ment Health1985; 13: 148–77
4.
Hess-HomeierMJ. A comparison of Beck's Cognitive therapy and jogging as treatments for depression. Diss Abstr Int1981; 42: 1175–8
5.
DoyneEJOssip-KleinDJBowmanEDOsbornKM. Running versus weight-lifting in the treatment of depression. J Consult Clin Psychol1987; 55: 748–54
6.
FremontJCraigheadLW. Aerobic exercise and cognitive therapy in the treatment of dysphoric moods. Cognitive Ther Res1987; 11: 241–51
7.
McCannILHolmesDS. Influence of aerobic exercise on depression. J Pers Soc Psychol1984; 46: 1142–7
8.
MartinsenEWMedhusASandvikL. Effects of aerobic exercise on depression: A controlled study. BMJ1985; 291: 109–10
9.
SextonHMaereADahlNH. Exercise intensity and reduction in neurotic symptoms. Acta Psychiatr Scand1989; 80: 231–5
10.
GoldbergDPCooperBEastwoodMRKedwardHBShepherdM. A standardised psychiatric interview for use in community surveys. Br J Prevent Soc Med1970; 24: 18–23
11.
JenkinsRMannAHBelseyE. The background, design, and use of a short interview to assess social stress and support in research and clinical settings. Soc Sci Med1981; 15E: 195–203
12.
BeckATWardCHMendelsonMMockJErbaughJ. An inventory for measuring depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry1961; 45: 462–7
13.
SpielbergerCD. Manual for the state-trait anxiety inventory. Palo Alto, California: Consulting Psychologists Press, 1983
14.
AstrandPRodahlK. Textbook of work physiology. London: McGraw-Hill, 1986
15.
MannAHJenkinsRBelseyE. The twelve month outcome of patients with neurotic illness in general practice. Psychol Med1981; 11: 535–42
