What if there was something you could do right now to help control your clinical depression and it doesn't involve any pill popping?

It's been proven in a study at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center*, that exercise not only helps clients "feel good", but can significantly cut their depressive symptoms in half.

That's good news for the over 19 million Americans that suffer from a depressive illness every year. Especially because a majority of them never receive treatment or only partial treatment, due to the stigma attached with suffering from "depression".

The 12 week study involved 80 adult patients who suffered from mild to moderate depression ages 20-45 years old. They were separated into 5 groups and given a different fitness regime.

Group 1 - moderate intensity aerobic exercise 5x week
Group 2 - moderate intensity aerobic exercise 3x week
Group 3 - low intensity aerobic exercise 5x week
Group 4 - low intensity aerobic exercise 3x week
Group 5 - Only stretching

The study showed that the moderate-intensity groups had the biggest improvement. Symptoms fell by 47 percent. Depression had gone into remission for 42 percent of those participants. These results are comparable to other depression treatments such as antidepressant use.

The study also showed that it didn't matter how many times a week they exercised (3 or 5), instead what mattered was the intensity and keeping up that level for 30-35 minutes each workout.

Low intensity participants showed improvements too, just not as significant as the high-intensity groups. Their symptoms fell about 30%.

Now don't go thinking that all you have to do is join a gym and poof you are cured! This study just shows how much more significant exercise is to treating depression than was initially thought - and with a combination of the right treatments that include an exercise program - remission is sure to follow!

*Data from this study was researched at WEB MD

Lisa Angelettie is an author, counselor, & coach on mental health, relationship, and other life issues for women. You can also visit her at http://www.girlshrink.com Please visit us for more discussion on this topic in the depression forum to talk about it further. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for topics in the news, new articles, website & book reviews, and other useful depression resources. Subscribe below.