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Article Date: 17 May 2011 – 5:00 PDT
Giving pedometers to patients screened for depression, HealthPartners Medical Group (HPMG) is prescribing walking or exercise in addition to medication and/or therapy as an effective tool in helping patients with depression.
It is estimated that 19 million Americans are living with depression, and three-quarters of patients with severe depression first seek help through their primary care clinic. The average person waits nearly a decade before seeking treatment for mental illnesses.
Research on depression and exercise shows that the psychological and physical benefits of exercise can help improve mental health. Exercise leads to changes in some of the same neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain that affect mood) targeted by antidepressant medications used to treat both depression and anxiety disorders. Exercise can be used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that may also include therapy and medication.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/225594.php
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