[Physical activity has an acute effect on depression and anxiety syndromes]. / Fysisk aktivitet kan ha omedelbar effekt på depression och ångest.

Physical activity has a preventive and an acute effect on both depression and anxiety syndromes. The effect of just physical activity, usually 3 times/week for 8-12 weeks, is equal to treatment with psychotherapy or antidepressants for mild to moderate depression, according to several meta-analyses. Addition of physical exercise to psychotherapy has a significantly greater effect than psychotherapy alone. Few high-quality studies on anxiety syndromes have been performed regarding the treatment effect of physical activity. In anxiety syndromes, physical activity for 10-12 weeks has a better effect than no treatment. Yet, psychotherapy or pharmacological treatment has a better effect than physical exercise in panic disorder. The article describes a variety of positive physiological, neurobiological and psychological mechanisms of physical activity.

[Physical activity is just as good as CBT or drugs for depression]. / Fysisk aktivitet lika bra som KBT eller läkemedel vid depression.

In this article on the effect of physical activity on depression, data have been drawn from several meta-analyses, in particular, the latest Cochrane review entitled ¼Exercise for depression« published in 2013. The results show that physical activity can help prevent the onset and relapse of depression. Depressed people should be recommended aerobic or muscular strength training. There is clear evidence that physical activity alone is beneficial for the treatment of mild and moderate depression and can reduce symptoms of mild to moderate depression to the same extent as standard treatments (psychotherapy and antidepressant medication). Combining physical activity with these treatments may yield additional benefits. Individuals with depression should be recommended physical activity in adjunct to psychotherapy and medication.