TDNet Discover

The aim of this project was to find out if exercise has any impact on depression symptoms among patients taking antidepressants. The PICOT question is;Among adult depressed patients aged 18 years and above taking antidepressants medications, does the use of walking exercises compared to those who do not participate in a walking program, improve depression scores on a PHQ-9 scale over a period of 8 weeks? Evidence from scholars such as Ross et al. (2023) noted that brisk walking is effective for treating individuals with depression. Hidalgo (2019) found that brisk walking exercise offers a therapeutic alternative to existing treatments such as antidepressant therapy, which cause adverse effects in older adults. This project compared the PHQ-9 scoring of people with depression engaging in exercise and those who did not engage in exercise but continued with the normal medications. Depression has symptoms such as loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities, low energy, and low self-esteem. The risk of developing depression is higher in people with a history of trauma, family history of depression, unresolved grief, medication and substance use. About 21.0 million of all adults in the United States in 2020 had at least one major depressive episode. Integrating exercise into the treatment of depression helps to prevent the development of other health conditions such as heart disease, obesity, and blood pressure.