Posted by morganator on December 1, 2009, at 3:13:30
In reply to Re: I'm an exercise skept, posted by mtdewcmu on November 30, 2009, at 23:27:09
> > I'm also very skeptical about "the placebo affect" when it comes to depression. I honestly believe that if somebody has a placebo response to a medication or herbal supplement or whatever then their depression is more psychological otherwise, they would know a placebo response for what it is.
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> Not everybody has chronic depression like us. For a lot of people, depression is transient and will go away on its own. In a clinical study, the placebo effect encompasses depression that resolves spontaneously as well as people who cure themselves by believing in the drug. Some people may also under-report their symptoms toward the end of the study in an effort to please the researchers.The benefits of exercise on mood are not placebo. Just because you do not benefit from exercise(who knows maybe you will some day) does not mean that the benefits are placebo.
I do think there is something to say for people feeling good about working out so they feel less stressed or depressed later. It's like accomplishing anything and feeling good about it after. Still, exercise relieves stress and anxiety and has specific effects on the brain leaving many to feel less stressed and depressed leaving the gym as they were going into the gym.
poster:morganator
thread:926857
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20091127/msgs/927653.html