Lifestyle counseling may be more effective than CBT for depression

Depression is one of our most common public illnesses. According to the Public Health Agency, almost one in five Swedes suffers from depression at some point during their lifetime. The condition is dangerous. Depression is the most common psychiatric diagnosis associated with suicide.

Medicines and therapy, and especially cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), are among the most common treatments. One problem, however, is that not all patients respond to these measures.

It has long been known that lifestyle changes, especially physical activity, can be effective in depression. In an attempt to compare the two strategies, Adrienne O'Neil and her colleagues at Deakin University in Australia have now randomized 267 people with depression or bipolar disorder to either receive CBT or advice on lifestyle changes for eight weeks. The patients had moderate to severe symptoms of their disease. The aim of the counseling was to improve their diet and sleep, limit their alcohol intake and encourage physical activity.

After eight weeks, doctors not involved in the study were asked to rate the patients' depression according to a standardized scale. It found that those who had received CBT had reduced their symptoms by an average of 6.82 points, while those who had received counseling had decreased by 8.55 points.

According to New Scientist, which reports on the study, the research has not yet been published in a scientific journal. But the result confirms previous studies that have shown that physical activity can be very effective, mainly in cases of mild to moderately severe depression.

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