Practicing physical activity is related to significant reductions in depressive symptoms in children and adolescents, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis led by the University of Hong Kong.
The study, published in the scientific journal ‘JAMA Pediatrics’, included 21 studies with 2,400 participants. The greatest decreases in these symptoms were recorded in people over 13 years of age.
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Depression is the second most common mental disorder among children and adolescents, with an estimated prevalence rate of 6.2 percent globally, yet only a small proportion seek or receive specific treatment for the disorder.
Depression in early childhood is associated with serious adverse outcomes, including difficulties in social functioning, poor mental and physical health, and suicide.
The incidence of depressive symptoms at an early age is a strong predictor of future mental disorders, since up to 67 percent of youth with depressive symptoms have been shown to be at risk of developing depressive or anxiety disorders of complete syndrome in adulthood.
The available clinical practice guidelines suggest the use of psychotherapy and/or pharmacotherapy to alleviate depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. However, both approaches have limitations that can reduce adherence to treatment, according to the study.
Lack of time, fear of stigma, parental mistrust of the therapist, and lack of perception of the need for treatment can be strong barriers to child psychotherapy, while adverse effects, such as sleep disturbances, malaise, gastrointestinal and even suicide, have been associated with the use of antidepressants in pediatric patients, the study says.
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According to the study, physical activity interventions show promise as an alternative or complementary approach to the clinical treatment of depressionas they have been shown to alleviate depressive symptoms in adults and have been endorsed by international guidelines such as the European Psychological Association, the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Canadian Mood and Anxiety Treatment Network as official treatment of depression in adults.
According to the study, physical activity is also safer and more accessible than other clinical treatments for depression.
The objective of this investigation was to determine the association of physical activity interventions with depressive symptoms in children and adolescents.
Two independent investigators selected studies evaluating the effects of physical activity interventions on depressive symptoms in children and adolescents compared to a control condition.
The main outcome was depressive symptoms measured using validated depression scales following the intervention and during follow-up. We included 21 studies with 2441 participants, 1148 (47%) boys and 1293 (53%) girls. The mean age was 14 years.
Meta-analysis of post-intervention differences revealed that physical activity interventions were associated with a reduction in depressive symptoms compared to the control condition, according to the study.
Secondary analyzes demonstrated that the intervention, i.e., less than 12 weeks in duration, 3 times per week, unsupervised, and the characteristics of the participants, i.e., over 13 years of age, with a diagnosis of mental illness and/or depression, may influence the overall effect of the treatment.
‘Exercise is a protective factor once morest anxiety and depression’
In statements to SMC Spain, the head of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service and director of the Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health of the Gregorio Marañón General University Hospital, Celso Arango, highlighted that the results of the study “coincide with usual practice and previous studies that can be extended to adults”.
“Moderate physical exercise is a protective factor for the development of mental disorders such as anxiety and depression, and once these disorders are present, it accelerates improvement when combined with different treatments indicated with scientific evidence. Taking into account Since depression is a disease of the whole body, physical exercise is an important aid that we clinicians use in our regular practice with patients,” he pointed out.
