Exercise for Mental Health

Question 1

Physical Responses

Answer 1

• Psychomotor retardation
  
  • Slowing of response time and motor movements
• Not a typical side effect of psychological disorders
  
  • Can be seen with untreated depression or depression over an extended period
  • Can also be seen when benzodiazapines are used to treat anxiety

Question 2

Effects of Exercise

Answer 2

•Evidence suggests that all forms of exercise can alter biochemical components of the brain

Question 3

Risk of Depression

Answer 3

•Increased activity is positivity correlated with a decrease in the risk of developing depression

Question 4

Exercise effects on Depression

Answer 4

• Aerobic exercise is equal in effectiveness to some pharmaceuticals for mild to moderate depression
• Relapse of depression is decreased when exercise as compared to pharmaceuticals
• When used as an adjunct to medication, exercise is able to further improve depression symptoms

Question 5

CDD4 recomendations for exercise

Answer 5

• Every person with a chronic condition should be physically active, accumulating a minimum weekly total of
  
  • 150 min of preferably moderate-intensity physical activity or, if that is too difficult, then
  • 150 min of light-intensity physical activity may be substituted.
• At least 2 days per week of flexibility and muscle strengthening activities that should minimally involve
  
  • chair sit-and-reach stretches on left and right,
  • at least eight consecutive sit-to-stand exercises,
  • at least 10 step-ups (or a flight of steps), leading with each foot, and
  • at least eight consecutive arm curls with a minimum of 2 kg held in the hand; 4 kg is recommended

Question 6

Norway exercise for depression study results

Answer 6

• HUGE study completed in Norway-40,000 people
  
  • Those with leisure activities that made them active, regardless of the intensity had a decreased prevalence of depression
  • Those that had a job that required physical activity did not change their risk, unless it was very strenuous which increased depressive symptoms yet, interestingly, decreased their anxiety…..

Question 7

How does exercise help depression

Answer 7

•Serotonin synthesis is increased

Question 8

Treatment of major depressive disorder

Answer 8

• For severe major depressive disorder-
  
  • Medication worked best as compared to combo and exercise alone

Question 9

Exercise and anxiety

Answer 9

• Exercise training reduces symptoms of anxiety when compared to no treatment or cognitive behavioral therapy alone
• Most symptoms of alleviated by exercise sessions lasting a minimum of 30 minutes however the benefits have a limited duration