Chronic Exercise and Mental Health: Depression

Question 1

What symptoms/attributes allow us to diagnose depression?

Answer 1

5 of 9 total symptoms:
- At least two weeks of: persistent depressed mood + persistent anhedonia

As well as:
- weight/appetite change
- sleep disturbances
- restlessness/slowing down
- fatigue/low energy
- feelings of worthlessness/excessive guilt
- impaired concentration
- thoughts of death/suicide

Question 2

anhedonia

Answer 2

no longer enjoying the things you used to enjoy

Question 3

major depressive episode

Answer 3

each 2-week period with high symptoms

Question 4

major depressive disorder

Answer 4

1 or more episodes with low/no symptom periods in between; multiple episodes across a period of time

Question 5

response

Answer 5

reduction of 50% in symptoms

Question 6

remission

Answer 6

no longer having the disease/disorder

Question 7

What are some current treatments of depression?

Answer 7

antidepressant medications + therapy

Question 8

What are some of the current treatment success rates?

Answer 8

• only 30% of people who are treated for depression go into remission at 12 months
• about 50% of people who are successfully treated relapse within 2 years
• roughly 15% of people who are treated for depression are successfully treated with their first treatment at 2 years

Question 9

What is the psychobiology behind major depressive disorder?

Answer 9

deficiency of neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine)

Question 10

prevalence

Answer 10

how many people currently have depression @ any given point

Question 11

incidence

Answer 11

how many people will develop depression over X years; follows people over time

Question 12

From the meta-analysis on PA and depression, what were the results?

Answer 12

individuals were at a 17% reduced risk of developing depression with high activity compared to low/no activity

Question 13

What are some mechanisms for exercise on depression psychologically?

Answer 13

• social support
• distraction
• feelings of mastery
• improved self-esteem

Question 14

What are some mechanisms for exercise on depression physiologically?

Answer 14

• monoamines (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine)
• BDNF
• endocannabinoids
• HPA-axis regulation
• inflammation

Question 15

From the studies on exercise vs. depression, what was the overall summary?

Answer 15

• physical activity is associated with the prevalence of depression
• physical activity is associated with the incidence of depression
• exercise can treat depression effectively and appears similar to both antidepressant medication and group therapy
• combination is the answer!