More GPs Prescribing Exercise For Depression

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Main Category: Depression
Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Article Date: 08 Feb 2008 - 12:00 PDT

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A leading UK charity has published the results of a survey that shows the number of GPs prescribing exercise as a treatment for depression has gone up in the last three years.

The Mental Health Foundation announced to the press today, Friday 8th February, that it found 22 per cent of GPs now prescribe exercise as one of the three preferred treatments for depression. Three years ago this figure was only 5 per cent.

Chief Executive of the charity, Andrew McCulloch said:

"It is excellent news that GPs are now turning to exercise therapy to help people with depression."

Over the last three years the Mental Health Foundation has been campaigning for doctors to increase their use of exercise therapy to treat mild to moderate depression.

The new report shows there has been a significant change among GPs in their beliefs about the effectiveness of exercise as a way to treat depression. Over 60 per cent of them now believe that a supervised exercise regime is a "very effective" or "quite effective" way to treat mild to moderate depression. This compares with just over 40 per cent three years ago.

Unfortunately, although there appears to be a significant rise in interest among patients and their doctors in using this approach, there are not enough facilities to allow all doctors who would like to make exercise therapy referrals to take advantage of them, said the charity. More than half of GPs do not have access to an exercise referral scheme, and yet of these, 66 per cent said they would use one if it were available.

The GPs said they were also noticing an increase in patients' interest in exercise therapy as way to treat depression. 16 per cent of the GPs in the survey said they had patients asking about it.

McCulloch expressed the charity's frustration with the lack of facilities:

"There is a real need for increased availability of exercise on prescription so that it is accessible alongside antidepressant medication and psychological therapies."

"Depression is a complex illness; it is important that GPs have a range of treatments to offer and that people with depression have a choice," explained McCulloch.

Chairman of the Royal College of GPs, Professor Steve Field, told the BBC that GPs were increasingly aware of the benefits of exercise for mental illness. There is more evidence that it works, and:

"The overarching feedback from patients is incredibly positive," he said.

The Mental Health Foundation has now started a new research project, partly funded by the Department of Health, looking at the barriers that stop GPs using exercise therapy. The study is taking place at six exercise referral sites all over England, and is scheduled for publication in early 2009.

The charity also plans to issue a toolkit that will offer practical advice on how to set up an exercise referral scheme, together with training for referrers and deliverers of exercise therapy.

The charity offers downloadable booklets about exercise and depression on its website, or you can call them on 020 7803 1100.

Click here for Mental Health Foundation website.

Source: Mental Health Foundation press release, BBC News.

Written by: Catharine Paddock, PhD
Copyright: Medical News Today
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