WHAT IS DEPRESSION?

Depression is a common but serious mood disorder which impacts an individual's mood, emotions, and daily activity performance.
It is the most common mental health disorder in this century.
It can affect a person’s eating habits, physical well being and cognitive functioning.
It is caused by a combination of environmental, genetic, biological and psychological factors.
Can affect any age, gender or race.
Depression in older adults can be accompanied with serious medical illnesses. (National Institute of Mental Health)

To Be Diagnosed with Depression:

(National Institute of Mental Health)

Nearly one-half of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. (Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
It is estimated that one in five individuals are affected by a mood disorder in his or her lifetime. (webharvest.gov)
Depression is the leading cause of disability in the United States among people ages 15-44. (Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
Most commonly affected groups: those between 18-25 years old, females and people that are 2 or more races.
Approximately 17.3 million adults in the U.S had at least one major depressive episode. (National Institute of Mental Health)

Research has included more ways to make treatment more effective such as exercise, setting goals, and avoiding isolation. These are not used alone as a main treatment, but to assist with treatment. (National Institute of Mental Health)
Most individuals tend to turn to medication as a first method of treatment without considering the benefits exercise could provide.
Although it is not a cure-it-all treatment, its performance along with the proper dosage of antidepressants, has shown a dramatic decrease in depression symptoms than with antidepressants alone. (Tasci, Baykara, Gurok, & Atmaca, 2018)
In some research, it has been observed that patients with depression have had improved symptoms by following an exercise program as a part of treatment.
Studies indicate exercise may be used to prevent depression.
It was found that 1-2 hours of exercise per week is enough to significantly reduce the risk of depression.
People who reported no exercise were 44 percent more likely to be depressed in the future compared to those who exercised for 1-2 hours per week.
Results suggest that as little as 30 minutes of exercise of any intensity per week may be enough to prevent depression. (Rethorst 2017)
Other forms of treatment: medications like antidepressants and physchotherapy, AKA counseling. (National Institute of Mental Health)

Anxiety and Depression Association of America. (n.d.). Facts and statistics. Retrieved from

Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms. Retrieved from

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National Institute of Mental Health. (2018). Depression. Retrieved from

Rethorst, C. (2017). Physical activity as possible depression prevention method. Retrieved from

prevention

Tasci, G., Baykara, S., Gurok, M. G., & Atmaca, M. (2018). Effect of exercise on therapeutic response in

depression treatment. Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 1-7.

doi:10.1080/24750573.2018.1426159

Treatment of Depression- Newer Pharmacotherapies. (n.d.). Retrieved from