This study followed 156 adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) who had completed a 4-month treatment of either aerobic exercise, sertraline (an antidepressant), or a combination of both. At the end of treatment, all groups showed similar remission rates. However, after 10 months, those who had been assigned to the exercise-only group had significantly lower relapse rates compared to those in the medication group. Additionally, participants who continued to exercise independently during follow-up were less likely to meet the criteria for depression, suggesting that ongoing physical activity plays a key role in maintaining mental health improvements.

Reference — Babyak, M., Blumenthal, J. A., Herman, S., Khatri, P., Doraiswamy, M., Moore, K., Craighead, W. E., Baldewicz, T. T., & Krishnan, K. R. (2000). Exercise treatment for major depression: Maintenance of therapeutic benefit at 10 months. Psychosomatic Medicine, 62(5), 633–638. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-200009000-00006

Keywords & Nodes

• exercise
• mental health
• physical health
• Mental health is metabolic health.
• The mind and body are one.
• 6. Biology