Exercise parameters in the treatment of clinical depression: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Abstract
Rationale, aims and objectives Previous systematic reviews have concluded that exercise programmes are effective in the management of clinical depression. The aim of this review was to analyse the parameters of exercise programmes reported in the primary research, in order to provide clinicians with evidence‐based recommendations for exercise prescription for clinical depression. Methods A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was undertaken. Only trials that reported exercise to be effective in treating depression were included and our review was limited to adults. Appropriate databases and reference lists were searched using established keywords. Data relating to the type, intensity, frequency, duration, mode of exercise and mode of application of exercise was extracted and collated. Results A total of 14 randomized controlled trials were included in this review and from these trials 20 intervention arms were analysed. The majority of trials used an aerobic exercise intervention and were supervised. The most common exercise parameters were 60–80% of maximum heart rate for 30 minutes three times per week for an overall duration of 8 weeks. There is an equal volume of evidence supporting group as opposed to individually completed exercise programmes and no trends were identified which would support one mode of exercise over another. Conclusions Currently the primary research on this topic supports the use of aerobic exercise which is supervised in some capacity. The current evidence base supports a prescription of three 30‐minute sessions per week of aerobic exercise at 60–80% of maximum heart rate for at least 8 weeks.
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High-frequency exercise accelerated the serum BDNF peak, which promoted adaptation of central neurotransmitter release and was more effective at reducing depressive symptoms.
“Moreover, high-frequency exercise accelerated the serum BDNF peak, which promoted adaptation of central neurotransmitter release and was more effective at reducing depressive symptoms [106].”
From Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of exercise on depression in adolescents (2022) · cites this paper as [106]
Only a handful of studies have attempted to systematically establish the most effective way in which exercise should be applied in psychiatric populations.
“Given the growing interest in exercise as a therapeutic intervention, it is surprising that only a handful of studies have attempted to systematically establish the most effective way in which it should be applied in psychiatric populations (Perraton et al., 2010; Stanton and Happell, 2014; Stanton and Reaburn, 2014; Kimhy et al., 2016a).”
From Aerobic Exercise as a Tool to Improve Hippocampal Plasticity and Function in Humans: Practical Implications for Mental Health Treatment (2016) · cites this paper as Perraton et al., 2010
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“In relation to the volume of prescribed exercise , other reviews [12-14] argue a reduced volume in the session duration and frequency when compared with our results.”
BackgroundResultInfluential
- Authors
- Perraton, L. G., Kumar, S., & Machotka, Z.
- Affiliations
- University of South Australia (AU)
- Venue
- Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2010-05-25
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 597-604
- ISSN
- 1356-1294 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-2753
- OpenAlex
- W2125111052
- Cited by
- 142
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 0.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac Health and Mental Health
- Keywords
- exercise therapy, major depressive disorder, exercise prescription, aerobic exercise, exercise intensity, supervised exercise, group exercise, exercise frequency and duration, heart rate
- MeSH terms
- Depression, Exercise Therapy, Humans, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Evidence-Based Practice
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