The therapeutic impact of a recreational exercise program on patients with major depressive disorder : a pilot study

Abstract EN

In recent years, more attention has been paid to the therapeutic effects of exercise on depression.

Objective was to evaluate the effects of exercise on patients with moderate to severe major depression.

The study was conducted in the unit of Psychiatry of Assiut University Hospitals, and included 40 inpatients with major depression, half of them shared in a recreational aerobic exercise program for 16 days.

A global improvement rate was around 47% in the exerciser group, and 31% in non-exerciser group.

The exerciser group showed significant improvement in all symptoms of depression, subjective personality assessment scales, and Eysenck's personality dimensions more than non-exerciser group.

Recreational exercise seems to be a promising new approach in the treatment of depressive disorders of different severities, and is recommended to be included in the management program of the ward.