Research on depression and distance running

there is are actually great books out there of the psychology of running. Sound like a interesting topic, partly because I plan on killing myself when I can't run anymore.[quote]Tycho4511 wrote:

Bump

topic is as broad as "depression and running"? Anything more specific?

There used to be, and maybe still is, a guy at the U. of Wisconsin who treats depression by getting the depressed person to run. The "sessions" consist of three mile runs and if the patient can't run three miles s/he is sent away with a training schedule that will get them up to that level of fitness. But once they're ready for the "sessions", it's usually not necessary as the depression is gone.

Sorry I can't remember the name of the guy who worked that way. If you did a lit review it might turn up.

I usually just run a 15 miler in the morning and 8 in the evening. Trust me you will be too tired to be depressed, problem solved.

In a couple of past threads regarding depression and running, I've mentioned a study published in American Scientist (not Scientific American) some years ago dealing with the effect of brain seratonin levels on an animal's capacity to exercise to exhaustion. As I recall, it was tangentially hypothesized that aerobic exercise may be a form of self-medication for depression, perhaps because exercise may boost brain seratonin levels, with an effect somewhat similar to that of a selective seratonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) like Prozac.

Of course, you can find discussions of the endorphin-boosting effects of distance-running throughout the literature, dating back several decades, and generally suggesting that running creates a sense of euphoria by triggering the production of endorphins in the brain.

Personally, I believe that distance-running can have significant effects, both good and bad, on the chronically depressed, but I doubt that the relationship is as simple as the effect that running has on seratonin or endorphin levels. I am, however, no expert on the subject.

First, just a clarification, SSRI's don't boost seratonin levels, they block the re-uptake of the neuron that "sends" it out. This is coming from the zoloft web site (the jist of it...haven't looked in a while). Anyways...The effect of exercise on depression, stress, anxiety, and MANY other psychological conditions is very well documented. It's no new fact. Now, the reasearch on extensive distance running (or even more specific--at an elite level)is not so extensive. I am a DI athlete and one who has a chemical imbalance that causes chronic anxiety/depression. I can tell you that there is a very clear correlation between my performance outside of running when I am running. When I stop running (especially competing) I have a real hard time handling everyday stress, especially academics. Running not only is a physical benefit to the depressed (endorphins, and yes you are right about the seratonin....there is some sort of seratonin effect...not boosting though...i think). Just from personal experience, there is a HUGE connection between running performance and otehr performance. When this project is complete, make sure to post on here. Or maybe leave your email address so we can email you info.

Agreed. Just from personal experience I know there's a huge connection. If I'm not running, I'm not the same person mentally, emotionally, etc.

How does a doctor determine if one is depressed? Is there a way of measuring the chemical imbalance of an individual?

If you make an appointment with a doctor with symptoms of depression, what type of scientific or medical tests will the doctor perform before prescribing zoloft or prozac or whatever?

Couldn't agree more!! I also have a chem imbalance, chronic depression - spent some serious time hospitalized, am also a serious runner (compete open @ the D1 level, elite roads) and agree there is a huge connection between my training and disease.

Last hospitalization, was treated by a former Kenyan marathoner (?Olympian) now PhD - Jerry Mungadze - unfortunately, not a psychiartist (dealing w/ meds), but can speak some to running & effects on neurotransmitters and brain chemistry. Recommended that I not drop my mileage below 50/wk...ever

I know I am at extremely high risk if for any reason I have a sudden, significant drop in training - eg, in Jan, went from 75 to 0 due to serious illness, out for 3 weeks.

Running & mental illness is a tricky issue for individuals who at baseline are already athletes - whether D1, mileage hounds, dedicated weekend warriors, runners who just love to run, whatever - than it is for those who have never run before. The benefit is substantially greater for those who have not regularly "indulged"...

SUPER topic though - I'd definately look up Mungadze - and do NOT be spooked by his reputation - suspend judgement until you talk to the man...

I also am not the same person when I'm not running a lot - got to be at least at 30 MPW for me to feel good.

Right now the running is going great - only ran 5 yesterday, but it was great. I'm keeping two runs each week on the low side right now just to keep the injuries at bay.

Ooops - Mungdaze is from Zimbabwe, not Kenya...

I think that perhaps if you're going with the psyc. track, running and addiction may be even more interesting. What I hear a lot of people saying is that when they can't run, they are prone to feelings of depression. I think there's something to this. I've been injured for over a year now. After trying to keep in shape by riding the death bike, I finally quit trying and let myself turn into a blob. And, low and behold, I wasn't a happy camper. All of this is to say that with running, it may be that depression and addiction are two sides of the same coin... Just a thought...

"depression" the disease is a misnomer - its not a feeling of "oh, like I am soooo depressed, dude" very different from feeling down cuz you can't (won't) go for your little jaunt in the rain

ALL psychiatric diagnoses are made on the basis of reported behavior. That's all. There are no empirical tests for any of them. There's a book, the Diagnostic and Statisical Manual of Mnetal Illness, now in its fourth edition, which offers behaioral criteria for assignment of psychiatric diagnoses. But because the assignment is done on the basis of observed or described behavior, the diagnosis is always somewhat subjective, i.e., you may think you're suffering from depression and I may think you're whining, or vice versa.

I would be interested to see if there have been studies linking depression to QUALITY of running. It's one thing to exercise by running non-competitively; it's another thing to train with the expectation of getting good results. Are there problems with depression with runners who put a big part of themselves into the sport and get little in return?

Wonderful Topic! I have battled an anxiety disorder for years.

I either need to run or drink beer to feel sane. You bet that its a bio-neurochem issue. It's not a matter of a flaw in my character. I feel(based on 25+yrs of running)that many(not all)long distance runners have some type of issue that drive them to run. Mybe emotional maybe biochem, maybe both....

Please post results of your research.

This might come across as harsh, but.....

GO TO THE LIBRARY!

Or hit PubMed for peer reviewed articles.

There are studies out there that you can use.

If my anecdotal evidence is worth anything -- I become quite depressed when I'm not running. I did this for 5 years after college, drank quite a lot, played in death-metal bands, and generally was not a productive citizen.

I started running again, sobered up, got married, got better jobs etc.