FEATURE: DEPRESSION AND EXERCISE DEPRESSION, EXERCISE & THE BRAIN SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGIST JACQUI LOUDER PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE BACKGROUND INTO DEPRESSION AND THE BRAIN, AND EXPLORES THE EVIDENCE AROUND HOW EXERCISE CAN BENEFIT THOSE SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION. Ten years ago, 85 percent of Management of patients with Definition: Depression: the key data we now have ondepression often requires A depressive disorder can be mental health and depressiona multidisciplinary approach, including defined as a syndrome (group was non-existent. The estimateda combination of pharmacological and of symptoms) associated withlives lost to depression 5 years ago hadpsychological therapies. One of the a sad mood qualitatively and/orhit 850,000 people, with over 121 millionmost important components of patient quantitatively (duration /or intensity)worldwide suffering. Defined as an Axis IIcare when managing depression is the different from normal sadnessdisorder by the DSM V, it had previouslyimplementation of an exercise program or the one provoked by specificbeen assumed that depression, alongas a means of nonpharmacological situations, such as grief / loss.with many other mental healthtreatment (Cooney, et. a. 2013). In addition to mood, the fullconditions, was unchangeable. constellation of symptoms affectsWe now know this not to be true,Whilst there is an enormous amount cognition, behaviour and the neuralbut it does require a sensible andof research and information available system. The definition of thewell-managed approach to ensureon depression and other mental syndrome is completed by appropriate treatment is put in place.health conditions, understanding a significant functional disability. 24 VOLUME 36 • ISSUE 2 2018