There is a great open debate among those who believe this. antidepressants These are truly effective and necessary drugs for those who believe that there is nothing that psychological therapy and changing habits cannot solve. For this reason, the investigation, which will be presented this weekend at Congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, in Barcelona, will give you something to talk about. It was carried out by a group of scientists from Free University of Amsterdam and consisted of comparing the effects go for a run regularly and take antidepressants, in patients with depression.
It’s true that exercise can help improve mood. This is what is known and what psychologists and psychiatrists usually recommend. But it’s enough to replace antidepressants?
These scientists wanted to answer this question, but they also wanted to analyze other health effects beyond treatment depression and anxiety. They looked at whether certain parameters such as waist circumference, blood pressure and heart function These were modified by antidepressants or running. And their results turned out to be very interesting, since there were almost no differences in mood between both groups. However, physical health parameters were much better with exercise and worse with antidepressants.
Antidepressants or running? That is the question
141 people took part in the study. that they were hurt depression and/or anxiety. Instead of dividing them into two equal groups, as is usually done in studies of this type, they were allowed to choose whether they wanted to be treated with antidepressants or would rather try running.
The group that chose exercise was much larger. This shows that, in general, people with depression prefer to try other options before taking medication. Only those who had more intense depressive symptoms They chose drugs. This, logically, could mean bias in results. But it’s still interesting how it all happened.
Participants who chose antidepressants took the recommended dose daily escitalopram. It is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, which is very often used to treat depression and anxiety, panic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder, among others.
On the other hand, those who chose physical exercise performed 45-minute group races, under supervision, approximately two to three times a week.
Both of them completed the chosen treatment. for 16 weeks, after which the results were assessed. Thus, it was seen that the levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms decreased equally in both some and others. However, parameters related to physical health improved markedly in the exercise group and decreased slightly in those taking antidepressants.
What’s all this for?
Typically people with depression they tend to isolate themselvesthey don’t leave the house much and avoid social connections.
The exercise group was not only encouraged to take up running. Group physical education classes were organized for them, controlled at all times. In this way, they were encouraged to interact with other people and checked that they were following the procedures correctly. In fact, everything was planned and controlled from a center specializing in mental health.
During physical exercise, whatever type it may be, neurotransmitters are released which improve your mood. This, of course, would be positive. But in addition, having a controlled daily routine and establishing social connections was also very positive for these people.
On the other hand, we cannot ignore the fact that depressive symptoms in the drug group were more intense, so it would be more difficult to obtain good results.
Be careful not to exercise
What’s very important about this study is that adherence was much higher in participants taking antidepressants. From 82% vs 52%. It’s logical. It’s much easier to take a pill than to maintain a consistent exercise routine, especially when your mental health is declining.
For this reason, the study’s authors also insist on the importance of doing good. patient monitoringto try to maintain these habits for as long as possible.
Antidepressants don’t work?
The authors of this study also insist that they are not trying to demonize antidepressants. They consider them drugs safe and effective. However, there are people who are resistant to their effects or who for some reason do not want or cannot take them. So it’s good to have other options.
It must now also be taken into account that antidepressants are prescribed for many purposes, far beyond treatment for depression or anxiety. Perhaps a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder You can’t just run away. This is something every professional should consider.
What is clear, although this study does not focus on it, is that it does not matter whether we decide to run or take antidepressants. psychological therapy It is also important to gain tools to help us cope. Beyond this, each professional and, of course, each patient must decide which option is best. At least now we know that running is much more beneficial than we think.
Source: Hiper Textual
