Exercise as an antidepressant: exploring its therapeutic potential

Frontiers in Psychiatry

Psychiatry

Jang-Soo Yook¹  Chang-Sun Yoon²  Jung-Hoon Koo³  Ah-Hyun Hyun³  Joon-Yong Cho³  Yong-Chul Jang³  Dong-Joo Hwang⁴  Tae-Kyung Kim⁴ 

[1] Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea;Department of Physical Education, Korea National Sport University, Seoul, Republic of Korea;Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory, Korea National Sport University, Seoul, Republic of Korea;Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory, Korea National Sport University, Seoul, Republic of Korea;Sport Science Institute, Korea National Sport University, Seoul, Republic of Korea;

关键词: depression;    antidepressant;    exercise;    therapeutic;    stress;    anxiety;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1259711

 received in 2023-07-17, accepted in 2023-08-28,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the prevalence of depressive disorders worldwide, requiring alternative treatments beyond medication and psychotherapy. Exercise has positive effects on the brain; therefore, it has emerged as a promising therapeutic option for individuals with depression. Considerable research involving humans and animals offers compelling evidence to support the mental health benefits of physical activity or exercise mediated by the regulation of complex theoretical paradigms. However, challenges such as conducting long-term follow-up assessments and considering individual characteristics remain in human studies despite extensive efforts. While animal studies provide valuable insights into the potential benefits of exercise and its impact on outcomes related to depression and anxiety in rodents exposed to different stress paradigms, translating the findings to humans requires careful evaluation. More research is needed to establish precise exercise prescription guidelines and to better understand the complex relationship between exercise and depressive disorders. Therefore, this concise review explores the evidence supporting exercise intervention as an antidepressant treatment and its underlying mechanisms.

【 授权许可】

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Copyright © 2023 Hwang, Koo, Kim, Jang, Hyun, Yook, Yoon and Cho.