Researchers at the Free University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands found that running had comparable effects to antidepressants on the psychiatric symptoms of anxiety and depression. there was work published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
Depression and anxiety disorder are two different mental disorders that usually occur simultaneously in the same person. Standard treatments for these conditions include antidepressants and psychotherapy. However, antidepressants are not effective in some people and may have side effects.
Many studies suggest that exercise can replace antidepressants. The authors decided to check it out. Researchers conducted a 16-week study comparing the effects of antidepressants and continued treatment on symptom severity and physical health parameters.
Participants were 141 patients with depression and anxiety disorders. Participants were asked to choose between taking antidepressants or running therapy. Volunteers who could not decide were randomly assigned to treatment.
Participants in antidepressant therapy received 10 mg of escitalopram as a starting dose. Running therapy consisted of 45 minutes of supervised outdoor jogging 2 or 3 times a week.
The results showed that study participants generally preferred running exercise to antidepressants. 96 participants received running therapy, while 45 participants were on antidepressants.
The percentage of participants who achieved complete or almost complete reduction in symptoms was similar between the two groups; 43% in the running group and 45% in the antidepressant group. However, comparisons of physical health scores showed that the running group experienced decreases in heart rate, waist circumference and improved lung function. The antidepressant group showed slight increases in weight gain, diastolic blood pressure, and blood triglyceride concentrations.