4 ms·

It's pretty sad when my friend tells me his doctor diagnosed him with a lack of something in his brain where only way to go is anti depressants for the rest of

It's pretty sad when my friend tells me his doctor diagnosed him with a lack of something in his brain where only way to go is anti depressants for the rest of his life. He didn't even suggest aerobic exercise or diet, nope straight to prescription drugs. I'm not a doctor but based on my experience with depression and health, lifeStyle is so much more important than drugs no matter which disease you have or don't have

DanBC 9y ago
What your friend deserves is evidence based treatment. For depression that's a talking therapy (CBT), maybe combined with meds. The evidence for exercise as a treatment for depression is poor. http://www.cochrane.org/CD004366/DEPRESSN_exercise-for-depression http://www.cochrane.org/CD004366/DEPRESSN_exercise-for-depre... > Exercise is moderately more effective than no therapy for reducing symptoms of depression. > Exercise is no more effective than antidepressants for reducing symptoms of depression, although this conclusion is based on a small number of studies. > Exercise is no more effective than psychological therapies for reducing symptoms of depression, although this conclusion is based on small number of studies. > The reviewers also note that when only high-quality studies were included, the difference between exercise and no therapy is less conclusive. > Attendance rates for exercise treatments ranged from 50% to 100%. > The evidence about whether exercise for depression improves quality of life is inconclusive. this line, and the last line, are important: > The reviewers also note that when only high-quality studies were included, the difference between exercise and no therapy is less conclusive. > The evidence about whether exercise for depression improves quality of life is inconclusive.
- owebmaster 9y ago
  Ex-depressed people that got out of it with exercises are a better reference than this "studies". Even more when you compare with depressed people currently taking drugs.
  - Tushon 9y ago
    "Anecdotal data is better than a study" ... that's a big agree to disagree.
owebmaster 9y ago
And the most depressing thing about this is that people with depressions don't wanna hear that their solution is so simple as diet, exercises and lifestyle. Depression comes with existencial crisis and (ironically) excess of entitlement so people think their situation is different, is biological, pathological, spiritual...
robotresearcher 9y ago
Did it work? Is that part of the story not interesting?

DanBC 9y ago

What your friend deserves is evidence based treatment. For depression that's a talking therapy (CBT), maybe combined with meds. The evidence for exercise as a treatment for depression is poor. http://www.cochrane.org/CD004366/DEPRESSN_exercise-for-depression http://www.cochrane.org/CD004366/DEPRESSN_exercise-for-depre... > Exercise is moderately more effective than no therapy for reducing symptoms of depression. > Exercise is no more effective than antidepressants for reducing symptoms of depression, although this conclusion is based on a small number of studies. > Exercise is no more effective than psychological therapies for reducing symptoms of depression, although this conclusion is based on small number of studies. > The reviewers also note that when only high-quality studies were included, the difference between exercise and no therapy is less conclusive. > Attendance rates for exercise treatments ranged from 50% to 100%. > The evidence about whether exercise for depression improves quality of life is inconclusive. this line, and the last line, are important: > The reviewers also note that when only high-quality studies were included, the difference between exercise and no therapy is less conclusive. > The evidence about whether exercise for depression improves quality of life is inconclusive.

owebmaster 9y ago
Ex-depressed people that got out of it with exercises are a better reference than this "studies". Even more when you compare with depressed people currently taking drugs.
- Tushon 9y ago
  "Anecdotal data is better than a study" ... that's a big agree to disagree.

owebmaster 9y ago

And the most depressing thing about this is that people with depressions don't wanna hear that their solution is so simple as diet, exercises and lifestyle. Depression comes with existencial crisis and (ironically) excess of entitlement so people think their situation is different, is biological, pathological, spiritual...

robotresearcher 9y ago

Did it work? Is that part of the story not interesting?