Physical Activity: a Solution to Depression

Depression in college students is one of the major problems. Depression, at times leads to serious health related issues causing several problems in student life. Most of us don’t reach out for proper counseling for depression and this can lead to high risk with lower productivity of human life. In this blog I will explore an article “Undergraduate Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms: A National Study” by Catherine A. Elliot et.al.  This study explores genders on depression and suicidal symptoms with relation to physical activity. Healthy and active lifestyles are the best and easy way to deal with depression disorders.

This study will further explore how physical activity leads to cure depression/suicidal symptoms among college students. The 'Healthy People 2010' initiative is a set of national health goals established by the United States Government and one of its objectives HC2010 was to reach a minimum of 55% of adults achieving 3 or more days of activity per week by 2010. (Elliot et.al, 2012,p.230). This study examines whether the desired set goal by the healthy people 2010 is achieved.

Method:

This study was conducted in the self report, 'National College Health Assessment (NCHA)'. This survey consisted of 7 pages of different health questions. (Elliot et.al, 2012,p.230). The data used in this study was limited to 107 institutions yielding 71860 usable surveys. But surveys with missing data and graduate students were eliminated which brings the total useable survey down to 61,011undergraduate student, 85% of those answering the survey. (Elliot et.al, 2012,p.233).The student self reported on two key construct mainly depressive and suicidal symptoms and physical activity. Participants were asked different questions on the survey and provided with a range of answers they had to choose from. Questions included for example;

“within the last school year how many times have you:

(1) felt things hopeless 

(2) felt very sad 

(3) felt depressed so it was difficult to function

(4) seriously considered attempting suicide 

(5) attempted suicide 

or

On how many of the past seven days did you participate in vigorous exercise for at least 20 minutes or moderate exercise for at least 30 minutes” and for this there are 8 answer options from 0, 1, 2, 3….7 days. Data of survey was gathered and analyzed using 4×2 analysis of variance ANOVAs and Games-Howell post hoc test. The Means and standard deviation was calculated to compare different variables within the genders. (Elliot et.al, 2012,p.233).  

Result

 

The result of this survey showed that men were more engaged in physical activity than women. The outcome of different variables was that females felt more hopelessness than males, females reported more feeling of sadness than males, females reported more frequent level of depression than males, students with less or no physical activity reported considering suicides more than students with more days of physical activity and students both male and female reported the same result for the attempted suicide variable. . (Elliot et.al, 2012,p.234-237). However, in the last variable, students with less physical activity reported more frequent attempts for suicide then students who were more physically active. (Elliot et.al, 2012,p.237). In the last only 43% of students were reaching the goal of 3 or more day of physical activity per week. The survey population failed to meet the requirement HC2010 physical activity objective of 55 % of adults being active 3 days per week. (Elliot et.al, 2012,p.237)

Conclusion

Physical activity may prevent depressive symptoms among college students. It further reveals that college men have less depressive symptoms and more physical activity than do women and finally students reporting no physical activity considered attempting suicide more than the students with one or more days of physical activity. (Elliot et.al, 2012,p.238). Students who might be at the risk of depressive and suicidal symptoms must reach out to counseling services provided by their institutions as this may help them overcome their risk and this can help them achieve a better life style.

Reference:

 Elliot CA, Kennedy C, Morgan G, Anderson SK, Morris D. Undergraduate physical activity and depressive symptoms: a national study. Am J Health Behav.  2012 Mar; 36(2):230-41. PubMed PMID: 22370260.

Controversy in the Sphere of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) previously known as electroshock therapy has been in practice for  many years now, and was first introduced during the 1940’s by Dr. Cerletti and Dr. Lucio Ubini, Italian neuro-psychiatrists who derived it from the method of slaughtering pigs, before which they were electrocuted to unconsciousness. They found out, it was an effective way to ‘tame’ obsessive and troublesome mental patients. Use of substantial levels of insulin to shock patients into hour long comas also came under the category.

Unpleasant as it may sound, the treatment became widespread and psychotherapists added the process as one of their therapies which over the years has been made to be looked at as a useful treatment. The electroconvulsive therapy has now evolved to a brief application of electric stimulus used to produce generalized seizures through electrodes attached to the scalp. The treatment is advised to be used as a last resort for patients suffering from severe depression.

Because of its disagreeable nature, the treatment has been a controversy and an issue still debated on among the medical community. This is one of the reasons why informed consent of the patient has become a vital requirement for the treatment. Informed consent is considered vital as memory loss is one of the several side effects.

The controversial therapy has been in debate ever since its use became common. The predicament is whether it should be used as a ‘last resort’ or as a preliminary intervention.  In the book, “The Practice of Electroconvulsive Therapy, Second Edition”, a task force report by the American Psychiatric Association, it is said that the use of ECT is more effective if used as a primary intervention as it may bring better results due to the prompt use of the therapy, however, patient consent and their general health condition should be taken into consideration.

On the other hand, In a research based study about the issue by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), ECT has shown fast and short term improvements in people having severe symptoms of depression. But this therapy should be the last resort for patients who have failed to respond to all other kinds of treatments or when the situation is life threatening. About 50% of depressed people who do not improve through antidepressant medication and other forms of therapies have showed signs of improvement with ECT.

When Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) should be used:

•             When medication fails to respond

•             When antidepressants have side effects

•             When the patient has a life threatening condition 

•             When no other psychotherapy is making improvement

•             When the patient have gone through ECT in the past and it has helped

•             When the patient is ready for it with their own consent

It is also important to keep in mind the responses of the individuals who undergo this treatment. In  a paper by Anne Donahue, “A Basic Layperson’s Guide to Decision making about ECT”, thorough research about the success of the therapy and its side effects are discussed in detail since she is a former patient who went through ECT, and in her research she informs that ECT as a primary intervention however useful it may be in the short term, the relapse time lasts maximum up till 6 months and getting the treatment done again and again is not a very healthy option and has numerous negative effects.

Considering both sides of the story, I believe, the choice of going for an Electroconvulsive Therapy should depend entirely on the patient suffering from the mental illness since only they’d best understand the need for such a treatment and how necessary it is for them. After much research about the method of treatment and its process, ECT should only be used as a last resort of treatment and the patient should be made aware of the side effects of the treatment when given the option. Furthermore, the equipment, machinery and the doctors should be experts on the field before starting treatment on any of their patients.

References:

American Psychiatric Association. (2001). The Practise of Electroconvulsive Therapy: Recommendation for Treatment, Training & Privileging. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.Inc.

Barnes, R. (2011, July). The Royal College of Psychiatists. Retrieved from RcPsych: http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfoforall/treatments/ect.aspx

Donahue, A. (2007, Feburary). Timesargus. Retrieved from http://www.timesargus.com/assets/pdf/BT345701212.PDF

Technology appraisals TA59. (2003, Apirl). National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence. Retrieved from http://www.nice.org.uk/TA059