Exercise and depression

In the news in the UK yesterday, was the published report of some research into the treatment of depression, using physical exercise as a means to aiding recovery.

In the study some patients were given help to boost their activity levels in addition to receiving therapy or anti-depressants.

One group had to do physical exercise three times a week and presumably the other group did none. All the participants were prescribed the same tablets as medicine in their treatment plan.

After a year all the patients had fewer signs of depression, but there was no difference between the two groups. Contrary to expectations the exercising group did not pull out of their depression any faster or show a deeper recovery than the other group..

So, if going to the gym and jogging or swimming or taking a long walk, has not been to shown to  make the difference to depressed people, maybe they should try my wife’s cure.

At the first sign of grumpiness or a depressive state of mind, I am bent over a chair for twenty strokes with the paddle or the cane.

I am thus returned to a cheerful state immediately and of course it gives my wife some exercise as well.


Maybe a second, stricter research project is called for, with some European Community funding?