Physical Activity in the Prevention and Treatment of Depression and Anxiety Disorders: A Narrative Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2026.89.69920Keywords
physical activity, depression, anxiety, exercise as medicine, neurobiologyAbstract
Background. Depression and anxiety represent a massive global health burden. Because standard pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy often exhibit clinical limitations, there is a need for a multidisciplinary approach. In this context, physical activity serves as an effective complementary strategy.
Aim. The aim of this study was to synthesize current literature regarding the impact of physical activity on the prevention and treatment of depression and anxiety disorders.
Material and methods. A narrative literature review search of PubMed and Google Scholar was conducted to retrieve high-quality evidence, including meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and randomized controlled trials published between 2015 and 2026.
Results. Evidence suggests that exercise interventions may produce symptom reductions comparable to those reported in some pharmacotherapy trials. The benefits follow a "some is better than none" principle, where even low volumes of exercise significantly reduce psychiatric symptoms. These protective and therapeutic effects are driven by a dual mechanism. Neurobiological adaptations, such as Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) upregulation and reduced inflammation, work alongside psychosocial improvements.
Conclusions. Physical activity is a robust, evidence-based intervention. Therefore, clinicians should integrate the "Exercise as Medicine" framework into psychiatric care. Furthermore, future research should prioritize longitudinal designs and protocols to effectively overcome motivational barriers.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Zuzanna Marczak, Maksymilian Sito, Filip Jurkowski, Łukasz Wójcik, Natalia Gawron, Hubert Bojanowski, Aleksandra Dobracka, Kinga Zachar, Monika Jarowicz, Jędrzej Czmyr
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