Major Depressive Disorder Case Study

While the research of Blumenthal et al. (2007) focused on exercise being effective in reducing self-reported depressive symptoms, Diaz and Motta (2008) and Motta, Kuligowski, and Marino (2010) looked at the positive effects of exercise on depression, anxiety and PTSD. The theory of exercise’s positive effect on mental health has heavily been focused on

One of the studies showed that a combination of exercise and counseling was more effective than counseling alone (Rueter et al. 1982). Martinsen et al (1985) divided a group of 23 participants with clinical depression into two groups – (i) a control group of 14 patients and (ii) a exercise group of 9 patients who were given TCAs (Tricyclic antidepressants) to augment treatment. It was seen that both the group showed similar improvement in depressive symptoms. This does show that exercise has an impact that is as good as medication to lower depressive

Since 1990s, many scientists agree that exercise has positive impacts on people’s physical health and mental health (SIME WE, 1987). From Morgan and O’Connor’s research, people can reduce stress and state anxiety by doing physical activities; also gain emotional pleasure from the process (Morgan and O’Connor, 1988). Later in 1997, Landers states that physical activities can reduce people depression after weeks of regular and routine exercise. In addition, people can benefit from more

Critically Analyse the Research Findings on the Acute and Chronic Effects of Exercise on Anxiety and Depression

Exercise also helps to create a high content of other chemicals in the brain, such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, all which regulate the body and brain in different ways (Collins). Serotonin livens a person’s mood, while also helping to regulate sleep, develop their memory and learning abilities, and create or maintain certain social behaviors (Bouchez). Increased levels of these chemicals help people with mental illnesses respond to stressful situations in a more acceptable fashion, helping them to transition back into normal society quicker.

One way doing a complete work out helps decrease depression is by producing a chemical when you workout. According to the text, “A good workout doesn't just make the body stronger. It also produces a chemical that keeps depression away.” This

In a third study selected to include its findings to enrich the knowledge of the research topic, includes a systematic review of 12 randomized clinical trials ( exercise and non-exercise control groups), where adults diagnosed with high levels of anxiety and other psychiatric syndromes demonstrated less stress and anxiety symptoms during their inclusion in a physical activity program, reporting improved overall health in all the participants and reduction of the anxiety episodes in psychiatric patients (Stonerock,2015).

narrowed its focus on how exercise impacts the body’s overall health, especially the brain. This

Regular physical activity is important for normal brain function and mental health. Sustained exercise increases the level of serotonin in your brain and serotonin may play a key role in preserving brain function. As you age, the amount of serotonin in your brain decreases, which this is linked to an increase in depression.

Anxiety, depression and exercise research show that physical exercise can lead to a improved mood. Although links between depression, anxiety and exercise are not understood, you can see the difference with and without exercise. Exercise can lead to confidence, social interaction and help you cope with things in a different way. Research also shows that only walking and not a workout schedule can achieve these improvements.

Regardless of whether or not a person is an athlete, exercise can improve both cardiovascular and mental health. According to Michelle Willette, “Everyone knows that cardio workouts are great for body: better heart health, increased metabolism, decreased risk of many diseases; the list goes on. But did you know that getting sweat on can help sharpen the brain and make one feel better when you’re down? All the more reason to get up and get moving!” (Willette). In the brain the part that responds strongly to aerobic exercise is called the hippocampus. This brain structure grows as people get fitter by doing exercise. Besides making memory stronger, exercise can help to focus and stay on task. Physical activity can have potent effects on a person's

We predict that aerobic exercise training will produce changes in the hippocampus both structurally and functionally. Its enhancement in terms of the size will be correlated with improvements in the functions the hippocampal region is involved in. Particularly, exercise will develop young individuals´ memory consolidation, a process through which memories are stabilized in the long-term, but also the long-term potentiation phenomenon of it. This means a better capacity for converting short-term memories and information into long-term ones. It is also predicted that depression scores and risks of falling into a depressive mental disease will be lower in trained subjects.

For centuries exercise has been a part of the lives of men. Whether through carrying a freshly hunted boar through the forest or riding a bicycle to work, exercise plays a huge role in a vast amount of areas. As man learned more about the body and how everything functioned, he uncovered how many factors play a role in health, including mental health. Doctors normally recommend daily exercise. However, there are other sides of the argument. One can become addicted to exercise. The addiction starts as a mental need but can eventually result in a physical dependence. The effects of this on the body are still unknown and being examined. Even less known are the effects it has on the brain: the center of human activity and intelligence. One would want to do everything in order to preserve and improve cognitive abilities. It seems survival of the fittest is now a matter of neurological and cognitive capacities rather than physical attributes as it once was. Therefore, the question must be asked what effect exercise, a major aspect of human life, has on the brain.

First, physical activity is one of the most important lifestyle factors in depression. The level of physical activity a person participates in can affect that individual’s depression significantly. In a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (1979), authors Kristiann C. Heesch, Nicola W. Burton, and Wendy J. Brown looked at the relationship between physical activity and mental health in older women. They found that even low levels of physical activity decreased the symptoms of depression and anxiety over their 3-year study, and that with higher levels of physical activity women showed even greater reduction of symptoms (p. 812). With the capability of reducing symptoms and potentially sending individuals into remission, physical activity is similar in effects to antidepressant medication (Blumenthal et al., 2007, p. 7). This makes it very influential in depression, and an

In a world of vast technology and research, the study of medicine has greatly improved and continues to grow. In this day and age modern diseases have been cured and/or treated by “new” medicine. However, many carry short and long term side-effects that sometimes eliminate the meaning of the work as a whole. Are antidepressants one of them? Imagine spending every hour of everyday overeating, experiencing headaches, cramps, body pains or attempting suicide (NIMH, nd). Life would not be pleasant; however, these are just a quarter of the symptoms people with depression have to endure. Depression interferes with a person 's life and can cause pain for that person and others around him or her. It can even be very difficult trying to look for ideal treatment. Even though the most common treatments are antidepressants, some doctors consider exercise as a reliable treatment because of its preliminary health benefits. Cardiovascular/aerobic exercise helps to prevent health problems such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, strengthen the immune system and heart, and improve the working efficiency of the respiratory system (Mayo Clinic, 2014): considering cardiovascular/aerobic exercise as a treatment for depression would not be farfetched. However, there are some factors to consider as not every human body is made the same. This indicates both antidepressants and exercise treatments most likely do not have a hundred percent success rate on their own. Gayathri