ABSTRACT
Physical activity and depression is one of the most extensively researched areas in ‘exercise psychology’. In this chapter, therefore, we focus on how physical activity relates to clinically diagnosed depression in terms of both prevention and treatment. Specically, in this chapter we aim to:
● dene clinical depression and discuss its prevalence; ● detail prospective epidemiological studies; ● consider an epidemiological study with good design features; ● consider systematic reviews of physical activity and exercise as treatment for clinical
depression; ● note the existence of guidelines about the role of physical activity/exercise in the
treatment of depression; ● describe a key study concerning exercise as a treatment for depression with good design
features; ● critique two studies which have concluded that exercise should not be recommended
for depression; ● provide a critique of whether or not the evidence shows a causal relationship between
exercise and depression; ● oer directions for future researchers in this area.
