Exercise in seasonal affective disorder - A brief review

Abstract

Introduction: Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or seasonal depression is a mental disorder that occurs mainly in the winter months with symptoms that differ from the well-known depression. Several forms of treatment have been explored, with exercise being promising.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to review all available studies related to exercise and physical activity in SAD, both therapeutically and on a more general clinical and research level.

Material and Methods: The literature search was conducted in Pubmed, Scopus, APA Psychinfo and SPORTDiscus databases. The following keywords were used: seasonal depression, seasonal affective disorder, exercise, therapeutic exercise, physiotherapy, physical therapy and physical activity. The final studies were selected using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results: Of the 169 studies initially identified, the researchers concluded on 3 studies. The symptoms of SAD can be reduced with a personalized program that includes aerobic exercise, combining perhaps the appropriate time of day, but also the presence or absence of natural or artificial light. Also, it has not been proven whether or not exercise is a predictor of SAD.

Conclusion: Aerobic exercise is possibly the key for the reduction and elimination of symptoms of SAD in the winter months. However, further study in this field seems extremely necessary to find safe and reliable forms of exercise that improve the symptoms of these patients.