Benefits of regular practice of physical activity in the treatment of depression: An narrative review of the literature
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v13i5.45827Keywords:
Brain; Depression; Neurotransmitters.Abstract
Depression is currently considered the evil of the century, there are several factors and mechanisms for the development, maintenance and progression of this chronic psychiatric disease. Due to its exponential growth in recent years, especially after the COVID 19 pandemic, there has been a significant increase in the studies and formulation of new pharmacological and non-pharmacological techniques and skills for coping with depression, as is the case with the promotion of physical activity as preventive and therapeutic way. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the benefits of regular physical activity in the treatment of individuals diagnosed with depression. As a methodological approach, a narrative literature review was carried out, searching the Scielo, Pubmed and Virtual Health Library databases, 12 articles were selected in English and Portuguese in the last 5 years, from 2020 to 2024. In conclusion, physical activity demonstrates a range of benefits for individuals dealing with depression. In addition to the direct effects on neurotransmitters associated with mood, such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, exercise also stimulates neurogenesis in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for emotional processing, promotes improved sleep by regulating the sleep-wake cycle, reduces isolation and improves social well-being as it provides engagement and a sense of belonging.
References
Bacha, J. M. R. et al. (2020). Kinect Adventures versus physical exercise on depressive symptoms of older adults: A pilot study. Fisioterapia em Movimento. https://www.scielo.br/j/fm/a/qKxSkThZPL8zMqTkDMbmrqQ/.
Brellenthin, A. G. et al. (2017). Endocannabinoid and mood responses to exercise in adults with varying activity levels. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 49(8), 1688-1696. 10.1249/MSS.000000000000127.
Chen, Z. et al. (2024). Effects of internet-based exercise intervention on depression and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 103(8):e37373. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38394484/.
Corrêa, C. A. et al. (2020). Níveis de estresse, ansiedade, depressão e fatores associados durante a pandemia de COVID-19 em praticantes de Yoga. Revista Brasileira De Atividade Física & Saúde, 25, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.12820/rbafs.25e0118.
Dang, L. et al. (2021). Physical exercises in relieving the current state of depression. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte. 27 (8), 776–8.
Glassman, L. H. et al. (2024). “Gender Differences in Psychological Outcomes Following Surf versus Hike Therapy among U.S. Service Members.” International journal of environmental research and public health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10888301/.
Guo, Y. et al. (2024). “Association between long-term sedentary behavior and depressive symptoms in U.S. adults.” Scientific reports. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-55898-6.
He, X. et al. (2022). Physical activity in the treatment of depression in college students. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte. 28 (1), 68–71.
IASC. (2007). Diretrizes do IASC sobre saúde mental e apoio psicossocial em emergências humanitárias. Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC). Comitê Permanente Interagências 2007. ISBN: 978-87-92490-42-1. https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/sites/default/files/migrated/2019-03/ iasc_mhpss_guidelines_portuguese.pdf
Kandola, A. et al. (2019). Physical activity and depression: towards understanding the antidepressant mechanisms of physical activity. Rev Neurosci Biobehav, 2019. 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.09.040.
Krug EG et al., eds. World report on violence and health. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2002. https://www.cevs.rs.gov.br/.
Luan, X. et al. (2019). Exercise as a prescription for patients with various diseases. Journal of sport and health science. 10.1016/j.jshs.2019.04.002.
Mendes, T. B. et al. (2021). Physical activity and symptoms of anxiety and depression among medical students during a pandemic. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte. 27 (6), 582–7.
Ormel, J. et al. (2019). Prevention of depression will only succeed when it is structurally embedded and targets big determinants. World Psychiatry. 1 (18), 111.
Pascoe, M. et al. (2020). Physical activity and exercise in youth mental health promotion: A scoping review. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine. 10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000677.
Raiol, R. A. et al. (2020). Praticar exercícios físicos é fundamental para a saúde física e mental durante a Pandemia da COVID-19 / Physical exercise is essential for physical and mental health during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Brazilian Journal of Health Review, 3(2), 2804–2813, 10.34119/bjhrv3n2-124.
Ren, F. et al. (2024). “Effects of aerobic exercise on cognitive function in adults with major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.” International journal of clinical and health psychology. 10.1016/j.ijchp.2024.100447.
Rother, E. T. (2007). Revisão sistemática X revisão narrativa. Acta Paulista de Enfermagem, 20(2), 5-6.
Sá-Silva, J. R., Almeida, C. D. de, & Guindani, J. F. (2009). Pesquisa documental: pistas teóricas e metodológicas. Revista Brasileira De História & Ciências Sociais, 1(1). https://periodicos.furg.br/rbhcs/article/view/10351.
Schuch, F. B. et al. (2021). Physical activity, exercise, and mental disorders: it is time to move on. Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. 10.47626/2237-6089-2021-0237
Schuch, F.B. et al. (2013). Is Exercise an Efficacious Treatment for Depression? A Comment upon Recent Negative Findings. Front Psychiatry. 10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00020.
Shen, Y. et al. (2023). Effect of exercise intervention and rehabilitation on patients with depression. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte. https://www.scielo.br/j/rbme/a/SSc9nvKRD5MTY5ftWfXKjJL/.
Wang, J. Et al. (2022). Effect of physical exercise on medical rehabilitation treatment of depression. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte. 28 (3), 174–6.
Who. (2017). World Health Organization. Depression and Other Common Mental Disorders. Global Health Estimates, Geneva. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/depression-global-health-estimates.
Zhao, J. et al. (2024). “The influence of lifestyle habits on levels of depression among rural middle school students in Northeastern China.” Frontiers in public health. 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1293445.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Victor Alves de Oliveira; Luma Meireles Dias Gomes; Pedro Henrique Carvalho Freitas; Rafael Queiroz Silva; Juliana Barros Ferreira
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
3) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
