Exercise for depression
Abstract
Background Depression is a common and important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Depression is commonly treated with antidepressants and/or psychotherapy, but some people may prefer alternative approaches such as exercise. There are a number of theoretical reasons why exercise may improve depression. This is an update of an earlier review first published in 2009. Objectives To determine the effectiveness of exercise in the treatment of depression. Our secondary outcomes included drop-outs from exercise and control groups, costs, quality of life and adverse events. Search methods We searched the Cochrane Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis (CCDAN) Review Group's Specialised Register (CCDANCTR), CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Sports Discus and PsycINFO for eligible studies (to February 2010). We also searched www.controlled-trials.com in November 2010. The CCDAN Group searched its Specialised Register in June 2011 and potentially eligible trials were listed as 'awaiting assessment'. Selection criteria Randomised controlled trials in which exercise was compared to standard treatment, no treatment or a placebo treatment in adults (aged 18 and over) with depression, as defined by trial authors. We excluded trials of postnatal depression. Data collection and analysis For this update, two review authors extracted data on outcomes at the end of the trial. We used these data to calculate effect sizes for each trial using Hedges' g method and a standardised mean difference (SMD) for…
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Exercise for patients with mental illness has few adverse events.
“with few adverse events (Rimer et al. 2012)”
From A call to action: Exercise as treatment for patients with mental illness (2015) · cites this paper as Rimer et al. 2012
Cites
Depression, chronic diseases, and decrements in health: results from the World Health Surveys
Moussavi, S., Chatterji, S., Verdes, E., Tandon, A., Patel, V., & Ustun, B. (2007) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(07)61415-9 · Cited by 4,070 · see citing works
Effects of exercise training on older patients with major depression
Blumenthal, J. A., Babyak, M. A., Moore, K. A., Craighead, W. E., Herman, S., Khatri, P., Waugh, R., Napolitano, M. A., Forman, L. M., Appelbaum, M., et al. (1999) · Archives of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1001/archinte.159.19.2349 · Cited by 1,277 · see citing works
Exercise treatment for depression
Dunn, A. L., Trivedi, M. H., Kampert, J. B., Clark, C. G., & Chambliss, H. O. (2005) · American Journal of Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2004.09.003 · Cited by 1,208 · see citing works
Exercise and Pharmacotherapy in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder
Blumenthal, J. A., Babyak, M. A., Doraiswamy, P. M., Watkins, L., Hoffman, B. M., Barbour, K. A., Herman, S., Craighead, W. E., Brosse, A. L., Waugh, R., et al. (2007) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/psy.0b013e318148c19a · Cited by 1,019 · see citing works
Lawlor, D. A., & Hopker, S. W. (2001) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7289.763 · Cited by 995 · see citing works
Self-citationPhysical exercise and psychological well being: a critical review.
Scully, D., Kremer, J., Meade, M. M., Graham, R., & Dudgeon, K. (1998) · British Journal of Sports Medicine · doi:10.1136/bjsm.32.2.111 · Cited by 771 · see citing works
Association between physical activity and mental disorders among adults in the United States
Goodwin, R. D. (2003) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/s0091-7435(03)00042-2 · Cited by 675 · see citing works
Effect of Exercise on Depression
NORTH, T. C., McCULLAGH, P., & TRAN, Z. V. (1990) · Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews · doi:10.1249/00003677-199001000-00016 · Cited by 657 · see citing works
Craft, L. L., & Landers, D. M. (1998) · Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology · doi:10.1123/jsep.20.4.339 · Cited by 480 · see citing works
Interpreting Results and Drawing Conclusions
Schünemann, H. J., Oxman, A. D., Vist, G. E., Higgins, J. P., Deeks, J. J., Glasziou, P., & Guyatt, G. H. (2008) · Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions · doi:10.1002/9780470712184.ch12 · Cited by 366 · see citing works
Mead, G. E., Morley, W., Campbell, P., Greig, C. A., McMurdo, M., & Lawlor, D. A. (2009) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd004366.pub4 · Cited by 364 · see citing works
Self-citationPinquart, M., Duberstein, P. R., & Lyness, J. M. (2007) · Aging & Mental Health · doi:10.1080/13607860701529635 · Cited by 328 · see citing works
Exercise and depression: A review of reviews
Daley, A. (2008) · Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings · doi:10.1007/s10880-008-9105-z · Cited by 324 · see citing works
A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effect of Exercise on Sleep
Singh, N. A., Clements, K. M., & Fiatarone, M. A. (1997) · Sleep · doi:10.1093/sleep/20.2.95 · Cited by 291 · see citing works
Effects of aerobic exercise on depression: a controlled study.
Martinsen, E. W., Medhus, A., & Sandvik, L. (1985) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.291.6488.109 · Cited by 289 · see citing works
Combined exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy improves outcomes in patients with heart failure
Gary, R. A., Dunbar, S. B., Higgins, M. K., Musselman, D. L., & Smith, A. L. (2010) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2010.01.013 · Cited by 216 · see citing works
Shahidi, M., Mojtahed, A., Modabbernia, A., Mojtahed, M., Shafiabady, A., Delavar, A., & Honari, H. (2011) · International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/gps.2545 · Cited by 200 · see citing works
Acute and chronic effects of exercise on tissue sensitivity to glucocorticoids
Duclos, M., Gouarne, C., & Bonnemaison, D. (2003) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00108.2002 · Cited by 193 · see citing works
Gustafsson, G., Lira, C. M., Johansson, J., Wisén, A., Wohlfart, B., Ekman, R., & Westrin, Å. (2009) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2008.06.030 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
Rofey, D. L., Szigethy, E. M., Noll, R. B., Dahl, R. E., lobst, E., & Arslanian, S. A. (2008) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsn057 · Cited by 104 · see citing works
Lack of perceived sleep improvement after 4-month structured exercise programs
Elavsky, S., & McAuley, E. (2007) · Menopause · doi:10.1097/01.gme.0000243568.70946.d4 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
An examination of potential mechanisms for exercise as a treatment for depression: A pilot study
Foley, L. S., Prapavessis, H., Osuch, E. A., De Pace, J. A., Murphy, B. A., & Podolinsky, N. J. (2008) · Mental Health and Physical Activity · doi:10.1016/j.mhpa.2008.07.001 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Burton, N. W., Pakenham, K. I., & Brown, W. J. (2009) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/1471-2458-9-427 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Billinger, S. A., Arena, R., Bernhardt, J., Eng, J. J., Franklin, B. A., Johnson, C. M., MacKay-Lyons, M., Macko, R. F., Mead, G. E., Roth, E. J., et al. (2014) · Stroke · doi:10.1161/str.0000000000000022 · Cited by 1,529 · see citing works
Self-citationCooney, G. M., Dwan, K., Greig, C. A., Lawlor, D. A., Rimer, J., Waugh, F. R., McMurdo, M., & Mead, G. E. (2013) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd004366.pub6 · Cited by 1,834 · see citing works
Self-citationMalhi, G. S., Bassett, D., Boyce, P., Bryant, R., Fitzgerald, P. B., Fritz, K., Hopwood, M., Lyndon, B., Mulder, R., Murray, G., et al. (2015) · Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/0004867415617657 · Cited by 842 · see citing works
Physical fitness training for stroke patients
Saunders, D. H., Sanderson, M., Hayes, S., Kilrane, M., Greig, C. A., Brazzelli, M., & Mead, G. E. (2016) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd003316.pub6 · Cited by 759 · see citing works
Self-citationAndersen, B. L., DeRubeis, R. J., Berman, B. S., Gruman, J., Champion, V. L., Massie, M. J., Holland, J. C., Partridge, A. H., Bak, K., Somerfield, M. R., et al. (2014) · Journal of Clinical Oncology · doi:10.1200/jco.2013.52.4611 · Cited by 735 · see citing works
Noetel, M., Sanders, T., Gallardo-Gómez, D., Taylor, P., del Pozo Cruz, B., van den Hoek, D., Smith, J. J., Mahoney, J., Spathis, J., Moresi, M., et al. (2024) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj-2023-075847 · Cited by 707 · see citing works
Novel Models for Delivering Mental Health Services and Reducing the Burdens of Mental Illness
Kazdin, A. E., & Rabbitt, S. M. (2013) · Clinical Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/2167702612463566 · Cited by 465 · see citing works
Lifestyle medicine for depression
Sarris, J., O’Neil, A., Coulson, C. E., Schweitzer, I., & Berk, M. (2014) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/1471-244x-14-107 · Cited by 450 · see citing works
Exercise and the treatment of depression: A review of the exercise program variables
Stanton, R., & Reaburn, P. (2014) · Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport · doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2013.03.010 · Cited by 410 · see citing works
Jakobsen, J. C., Katakam, K. K., Schou, A., Hellmuth, S. G., Stallknecht, S. E., Leth-Møller, K., Iversen, M., Banke, M. B., Petersen, I. J., Klingenberg, S. L., et al. (2017) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-016-1173-2 · Cited by 366 · see citing works
Exercise and Physical Activity in Mental Disorders: Clinical and Experimental Evidence
Zschucke, E., Gaudlitz, K., & Ströhle, A. (2013) · Journal of Preventive Medicine & Public Health · doi:10.3961/jpmph.2013.46.s.s12 · Cited by 272 · see citing works
Short, A. K., Yeshurun, S., Powell, R., Perreau, V. M., Fox, A., Kim, J. H., Pang, T. Y., & Hannan, A. J. (2017) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/tp.2017.82 · Cited by 166 · see citing works
Dance movement therapy for depression
Meekums, B., Karkou, V., & Nelson, E. A. (2015) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd009895.pub2 · Cited by 163 · see citing works
Coventry, P. A., Bower, P., Keyworth, C., Kenning, C., Knopp, J., Garrett, C., Hind, D., Malpass, A., & Dickens, C. (2013) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0060532 · Cited by 157 · see citing works
Hughes, C. W., Barnes, S., Barnes, C., DeFina, L. F., Nakonezny, P., & Emslie, G. J. (2013) · Mental Health and Physical Activity · doi:10.1016/j.mhpa.2013.06.006 · Cited by 132 · see citing works
Patients' views of physical activity as treatment for depression: a qualitative study
Searle, A., Calnan, M., Lewis, G., Campbell, J., Taylor, A., & Turner, K. (2011) · British Journal of General Practice · doi:10.3399/bjgp11x567054 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Saxton, J. M., Scott, E. J., Daley, A. J., Woodroofe, M. N., Mutrie, N., Crank, H., Powers, H. J., & Coleman, R. E. (2014) · Breast Cancer Research · doi:10.1186/bcr3643 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Bourke, M. L., & Craun, S. W. (2014) · Sexual Abuse · doi:10.1177/1079063213509411 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Effects of exercise on symptoms of anxiety in primary care patients: a randomized controlled trial
Henriksson, M., Wall, A., Nyberg, J., Adiels, M., Lundin, K., Bergh, Y., Eggertsen, R., Danielsson, L., Kuhn, H. G., Westerlund, M., et al. (2022) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.006 · Cited by 91 · see citing works
Hyvönen, K., Pylvänäinen, P., Muotka, J., & Lappalainen, R. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01687 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
A call to action: Exercise as treatment for patients with mental illness
Stanton, R., Rosenbaum, S., Kalucy, M., Reaburn, P., & Happell, B. (2015) · Australian Journal of Primary Health · doi:10.1071/py14054 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Lopez-Montoyo, A., Quero, S., Montero-Marin, J., Barcelo-Soler, A., Beltran, M., Campos, D., & Garcia-Campayo, J. (2019) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2298-x · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Kanapathy, J., & Bogle, V. (2019) · Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.1177/1359105317713360 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Clegg, A. J., Hill, J. E., Mullin, D. S., Harris, C., Smith, C. J., Lightbody, C. E., Dwan, K., Cooney, G. M., Mead, G. E., & Watkins, C. L. (2026) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd004366.pub7 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Rimer, J., Dwan, K., Lawlor, D. A., Greig, C. A., McMurdo, M., Morley, W., & Mead, G. E.
- Affiliations
- NHS Lothian (GB)
- University of Liverpool (GB)
- University of Bristol (GB)
- University of Edinburgh (GB)
- University of Dundee (GB)
- Venue
- Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
- Published
- 2012-07-11
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- CD004366-CD004366
- ISSN
- 1361-6137 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4211229606
- Cited by
- 330
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 51 · 2014: 42 · 2013: 48 · 2012: 10
- Type
- reference entry
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- new_version (2013-09-12)
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Discovery Research Portal (University of Dundee) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- physical activity, depression, exercise therapy, antidepressant efficacy, adverse events, dropout, quality of life, cost-effectiveness, risk of bias, allocation concealment, intention-to-treat analysis, adults with depression, non-pharmacological treatment, depression recurrence prevention, exercise adherence, exercise duration, exercise frequency
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Depression, Humans, Middle Aged, Exercise, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Treatment Outcome, Young Adult
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
