Depression signs and how exercise yoga helps
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Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 26 (2012) 251–266
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Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
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Review
Neuroimmunological effects of physical exercise in depression
Harris Eyre a, Bernhard T. Baune b,⇑ a Psychiatry and Psychiatric Neuroscience Research Group, School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, 101 Angus Smith Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia b Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
a r t i c l e i n f o
Article history: Received 15 June 2011 Received in revised form 25 September 2011 Accepted 26 September 2011 Available online 2 October 2011
Keywords: Neuroimmunology Neurobiology Human Rodent Depression Exercise Physical activity Immunology Stress
0889-1591/$ – see front matter � 2011 Elsevier Inc. A doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2011.09.015
⇑ Corresponding author. Address: Discipline of Psy University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Eleanor Harrald Australia. Fax: +61 8 8222 2865.
E-mail address: Bernhard.Baune@Adelaide.edu.au
a b s t r a c t
The search for an extended understanding of the causes of depression, and for the development of addi- tional effective treatments is highly significant. Clinical and pre-clinical studies suggest stress is a key mediator in the pathophysiology of depression. Exercise is a readily available therapeutic option, effective as a first-line treatment in mild to moderate depression. In pre-clinical models exercise attenuates stress- related depression-like behaviours. Cellular and humoral neuroimmune mechanisms beyond inflamma- tion and oxidative stress are highly significant in understanding depression pathogenesis. The effects of exercise on such mechanisms are unclear. When clinical and pre-clinical data is taken together, exercise may reduce inflammation and oxidation stress via a multitude of cellular and humoral neuroimmune changes. Astrocytes, microglia and T cells have an antiinflammatory and neuroprotective functions via a variety of mechanisms. It is unknown whether exercise has effects on specific neuroimmune markers implicated in the pathogenesis of depression such as markers of immunosenescence, B or T cell reactivity, astrocyte populations, self-specific CD4+ T cells, T helper 17 cells or T regulatory cells.
� 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
The increasing prevalence of unipolar major depressive disorder makes the search for an extended understanding of the causes of depression, and for the development of additional effective treat- ments highly significant (WHO, 2008). Depression is caused by a complex interaction of multiple factors which can be most reason- ably understood by applying a bio-psycho-social framework. These bio-psycho-social factors are interrelated, with chronic stress being a major influencer (Moller-Leimkuhler, 2010). Chronic psychologi- cal stress precedes the majority (some 80%) of episodes of clinical depression (Kessler, 1997; Mazure, 1998; Caspi et al., 2003; McEwen, 2003; Bartolomucci and Leopardi, 2009; Risch et al., 2009). Similarly in animal models chronic stress is a precipitant of depression-like behaviour (Willner, 2005; Kubera et al., 2011). The pathophysiology of stress-associated depression is hypothesised to be associated with various neurobiological changes which are thought to be essential to molecular mechanisms of memory, learn- ing, and symptoms of depression (Baune, 2009; Miller et al., 2009). These neurobiological changes in depression occur in the mono- amine system, hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, neuro-
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chiatry, School of Medicine, Building, Adelaide, SA 5005,
(B.T. Baune).
genesis system and the neuroimmune system. A special emphasis has been given to neuroimmune processes since they may directly and indirectly affect the pathophysiology of depression by effecting other important neurobiological processes of depression (Garcia- Bueno et al., 2008; Maes et al., 2009; Kubera et al., 2011).
Production of neuroinflammatory factors, i.e. tumour necrosis factor alpha – TNF-a, interleukin-6 – IL-6, C-reactive protein – CRP, interleukin-1beta – IL-1b affect the main neuroimmune mechanisms potentially leading to symptoms of depression-like behaviour (Garcia-Bueno et al., 2008; Anisman, 2009; Maes et al., 2009; Kubera et al., 2011; Wager-Smith and Markou, 2011). These findings have lead to the formulation of the cytokine model of depression due to the capacity of pro-inflammatory cytokines to induce ‘sickness behaviour’, which closely resembles depression- like behaviour in humans (Dantzer et al., 2008; Capuron and Miller, 2011). Neuroinflammatory mechanisms in depression are thought to negatively interact with various pathways and can lead to monoamine dysfunction (e.g. low serotonin levels, creation of neu- rotoxic tryptophan-like by-products (3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) and quinolinic acid (QA)), HPA axis dysfunction (e.g. hypercortiso- laemia and reduced glucocorticoid receptor density), neurogenesis dysfunction (e.g. apoptosis and reduced neurotrophin creation) and neuroimmune dysfunction (e.g. decreased T cell proliferation, increased apoptotic rate and impaired T cell function) (Caruso et al., 1993; Maes et al., 1995; Mellor et al., 2003; Clark et al., 2005; Miller et al., 2009; Kubera et al., 2011). Pro-inflammatory
252 H. Eyre, B.T. Baune / Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 26 (2012) 251–266
cytokines can arise from central and systemic cellular neuroim- mune changes. Cells which are implicated in their creation include astrocytes, microglia, macrophages and T cells (Garcia-Bueno et al., 2008).
Few studies in depression research have directly examined the relative expression and function of relevant T cell subsets, and other relevant immune cells, beyond the characterisation of CD4+, CD8+ T cells and T cell mitogen responses in depression (Capuron and Miller, 2011). Other cellular neuroimmune mecha- nisms have also been implicated in the pathophysiology of depres- sion. These neuroimmune mechanisms include dysfunction of CD4+CD25+ T regulatory (Treg) cells, T helper (TH17) cells, self- specific CD4+ T cells, monocyte-derived macrophages, macro- phages, astrocytes and microglia (Schwartz and Shechter, 2010a,b; Capuron and Miller, 2011). These cells are suggested to have various roles involving regulation of inflammatory mediators, regulating neurogenesis, regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and also cell-to-cell interactions which may mediate neuroimmune mechanisms of the pathogenesis of depression. In this review we will provide a comprehensive and up-to-date re- view of the humoral and cell-mediated neuroimmunological mechanisms associated with depression by reviewing the most re- cent literature. We will evaluate these mechanisms for their poten- tial to act as novel targets for therapeutic interventions.
In recent years it has been suggested that interventions such as antidepressants, and alternative approaches such as exercise may exert therapeutic neuroimmune-modulating effects. In relation to antidepressants, a recent review article by Kubera et al. (2011) sug- gests that antidepressants may positively influence inflammatory, oxidative, apoptotic and antineurogenic mechanisms relevant to stress-associated depression-like behaviour. A review article by this group (Janssen et al., 2010) presents a detailed assessment of the cytokine response to antidepressants, and how treatment re- sponse might be affected by genetic variants relating to cytokines. Anti-psychotic medication and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are other psychiatric interventions showing neuroimmune-modulat- ing effects (Hestad et al., 2003; Pae et al., 2010). The efficacy of alternative therapies in clinical depression (i.e. polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g. Omega-3), anti-inflammatories (Acetlysalicylic acid and Celecoxib), exercise (resistance, aerobic and flexibility) and mindfulness-based therapies (i.e. mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, mindfulness meditation and mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy)) may also be correlated with neuroimmune- modulating abilities (Maes et al., 2000; Carlson et al., 2007; Dinan et al., 2009; Guo et al., 2009; Song and Wang, 2011). One study has shown that tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) cause an increase in inflammation, as measured by CRP, however, other authors have debated these findings (Hamer et al., 2011; Pizzi et al., 2011).
Exercise is a readily available therapeutic option, effective as a first-line treatment in mild to moderate depression (Carek et al., 2011). Additionally, exercise has a utility in preventing depression and has beneficial effects on other common co-morbidities (i.e. cardiovascular disease risk factors and glycemic control). A pro- spective, randomised controlled trial found that exercise was as effective as Sertraline (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) for the treatment of depression – the effect size of exercise was 2.0 (Blumenthal et al., 2007). Several reviews show exercise compares favourably to antidepressants and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as a first-line treatment for mild to moderate depression (Mead et al., 2009; Carek et al., 2011).
The efficacy of exercise in depression is classically attributed to its impact on changing certain neurobiological mechanisms includ- ing monoamine metabolism (e.g. increasing serotonin levels in the CNS), HPA axis function (e.g. decreasing long-term basal levels of cortisol), neurotrophic factors (e.g. increasing brain derived neuro- trophic factor (BDNF) and neurogenesis) and neuroinflammation
(e.g. decreasing pro-inflammatory mediators) (Chaouloff et al., 1985; Droste et al., 2003; Garcia et al., 2003; Greenwood et al., 2005; Kohut et al., 2006; Nabkasorn et al., 2006; Tang et al., 2008; Bednarczyk et al., 2009; Clark et al., 2009; Van der Borght et al., 2009; Christiansen et al., 2010; Donges et al., 2010; Mata et al., 2010; Rethorst et al., 2010; Sousae Silva et al., 2010). The ef- fects of exercise on neuroimmune mechanisms other than neuroin- flammation (e.g. cell-mediated factors such as Tregs, Th17 cells, CNS macrophages, microglia etc.) are unclear (Beavers et al., 2010a; Archer et al., 2011). Moreover, how these cellular changes relate to positive effects on the monoamine system, HPA axis and neurotrophic system also remains poorly understood (Beavers et al., 2010a; Archer et al., 2011). Surprisingly, a comprehensive analysis of the effects of exercise on neuroimmune mechanisms and stress-associated depression, including both clinical and pre- clinical research, is lacking in the literature.
In this review we provide a theoretical model whereby we show that the beneficial effects of exercise in depression are potentially mediated through various pathways of the neuroimmune system (see Figs. 2 and 3). Our proposed model on the effects of exercise will be based on evidence and empirical relationships from previ- ously published literature. The model on various aspects of the neuroimmune system may also be relevant for its therapeutic ef- fects in other neuropsychiatric disorders including anxiety disor- der, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and mild cognitive impairment (Conn, 2010a,b; Lautenschlager et al., 2010; Petzinger et al., 2010; Tajiri et al., 2010; Carek et al., 2011; Nation et al., 2011; Wolf et al., 2011).
The aims of this review article are to present evidence for the involvement of the neuroimmune system in the pathogenesis of stress-associated depression, and also to provide evidence for the immunomodulatory effects of exercise in depression. It is proposed that exercise will exert its action on symptoms of depression via a variety of neuroimmunological mechanisms (Figs. 2 and 3).
2. Methods
An electronic search of reputable databases such as PubMed, PsychoInfo, OvidSP and ScienceDirect were utilised in the creation of this literature review. Initial searching (revealing 1500 ab- stracts) was conducted using various combinations of the follow- ing keywords: neurotrophin, neuroinflammation, neuroimmune, intervention, monoamine, depression, exercise, physical activity, cytokine, hypothesis, stress, chronic, psychological, stress-induced depression, model, mouse, rat and human. Abstracts were selected based on the year of publication (between 1990 and 2011), publi- cation in the English language and of peer-reviewed type. They were excluded if they included anecdotal evidence. In this process 1000 abstracts were excluded and the remaining 500 full text arti- cles were sought. The resulting 500 full text articles were read thoroughly and their utilisation in this review was based on their journal type (i.e. peer reviewed) and salience to the aims set forth in this review. Finally 214 articles were utilised in the making of this literature review (Fig. 1 depicts this strategy).
3. Stress-associated depression: clinical and pre-clinical evidence
The concept of stress-associated depression-like behaviour has been known for many years with evidence derived from both clin- ical and pre-clinical models. The following section will briefly out- line most recent evidence for stress-associated depression, before moving onto its neuroimmune correlates.
Psychological stress is a known precipitant of depressive symptoms in the clinical setting; moreover depression is known
Fig. 1. Study inclusion flowchart.
H. Eyre, B.T. Baune / Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 26 (2012) 251–266 253
to further exacerbate the stress response leading to a vicious cycle which intensifies subsequent stressors (Kessler, 1997; Mazure, 1998; Caspi et al., 2003; McEwen, 2003; Bartolomucci and Leop- ardi, 2009; Risch et al., 2009). Chronic stress is also associated with precipitation and exacerbation of anxiety disorder and cognitive impairment (e.g. mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s dis- ease) via similar neurobiological mechanisms which are reviewed in: (Brady and Sinha, 2005; Miller et al., 2007; Conrad, 2010; de Rooij et al., 2010; Nation et al., 2011).
When considering translational research between clinical and pre-clinical models it is important to describe the ‘stressors’ which are associated with the onset of depression (Anisman et al., 2002). Anisman et al. (2002) suggests that the ‘stress’ involved in the stress-depression continuum needs to be considered based on severity, chronicity and predictability. Numerous investigators in this field have found protracted, unpredictable and relatively mild psychological stress is highly relevant to depressive symptoms in humans (Tennant, 2002; Bartolomucci and Leopardi, 2009; Baune, 2009). Similar observations are noted in rodent studies, particu- larly from the use of the unpredictable chronic mild stress para- digm (Willner, 2005). Many other investigators have established the link between unpredictable, chronic, mild stress and depres- sion in human and rodent studies (Dura et al., 1990; Caspi et al., 2003; McEwen, 2003; Risch et al., 2009; Frodl et al., 2010; Kubera et al., 2011; Karg et al., 2011; Wager-Smith and Markou, 2011).
There is a large body of evidence in pre-clinical rodent models supporting the concept of stress-associated depression-like behav- iour. Researching depression-like behaviour in rodents includes two main components, modelling and testing. Modelling whereby certain variables (e.g. environment) are manipulated in order to in- duce the required phenotype, and testing where the outcome of the modelling is evaluated (Pollak et al., 2010).
Many models investigating rodent ‘depression’ include chronic stress paradigms (e.g. chronic mild stress or chronic foot shock
stress), adverse life events (e.g. prenatal stress) and genetic modifi- cation (e.g. regarding depression-related genes). For the purpose of this review, the unpredictable chronic mild stress (uCMS) paradigm is selected as it shows strength in all descriptive validation criteria (Willner, 1997). Additionally, the uCMS protocol is known to elicit anxiety-like symptoms, schizophrenia-like behaviour and impair- ments in cognition-like behaviour (Mineur et al., 2006; Conrad, 2010; Salomons et al., 2010; Wolf et al., 2011). The stressors of uCMS are congruous in duration, intensity and predictability to the stressors known to be associated with human depression (Ten- nant, 2002). The uCMS paradigm consists of unpredictable and chronic exposure to environmental changes (e.g. cage dampening, cage tilting and food/water deprivation). The unpredictability of the uCMS paradigm is important for the development of depres- sion-like behaviour as predictable chronic mild stress is shown to improve depression-like behaviour, hippocampal neurogenesis and memory (Parihar et al., 2011). The chronicity of unpredictabil- ity in environment is important in the development of depression in clinical and pre-clinical models. Indeed, in clinical models, there is a large body of literature outlining the role of uncertainty in med- ical illnesses (i.e. exacerbations of illness in multiple sclerosis, asth- ma, atrial fibrillation and other chronic illnesses), certain psychological processes and traits (i.e. pessimism, hopelessness, depressive predictive certainty, intolerance of uncertainty, neurot- icism) and environment unpredictability in the development of depression (Mullins et al., 2000; Kroencke et al., 2001; Lynch et al., 2001; Miranda et al., 2008; McEvoy and Mahoney, 2011).
The specific tests examining the outcome of this model utilised in this review will be the forced swim test (FST), tail suspension test (TST), sucrose consumption and sucrose preference tests. These tests show good rationale and consistently high validity. TST and FST are based on the principle that immobility is sugges- tive of ‘apathy’, ‘disengagement’, ‘despair’ or ‘entrapment’; all of which are well known symptoms/signs of depression (Deussing,
254 H. Eyre, B.T. Baune / Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 26 (2012) 251–266
2006). Sucrose testing assesses ‘anhedonia’ or loss of capacity to experience pleasure: this is inferred by the measured consumption or preference for a ‘pleasureable’ sucrose fluid. Lower levels of con- sumption suggest anhedonia. Together these three tests measure depression-like behaviour.
Various molecular biological correlates are suggested to be associated with the model of stress-associated depression-like behaviour. These findings can be separated into four mechanisms including (1) monoamine dysfunction, (2) HPA axis dysfunction, (3) neurogenesis dysfunction and (4) neuroimmune system dys- function (Fig. 2) as shown in various studies in humans with depression and in animals investigating depression-like behaviour (Eaton et al., 1996; Lanfumey et al., 2000; Wust et al., 2000; Pruess- ner et al., 2003; Gronli et al., 2006; Banasr et al., 2007; Goshen et al., 2008; Li et al., 2008; Luo et al., 2008; Pace and Miller, 2009; Elizalde et al., 2010; Frodl et al., 2010; Larsen et al., 2010; Karg et al., 2011).
3.1. Stress-associated neuroimmunological changes in depression
For the purpose of this review, we focus on the neuroimmune dysfunction related to the development of depression-like behav- iour in clinical and pre-clinical studies.
3.1.1. Clinical studies Clinical evidence suggests chronic stress induces depressive
symptoms and various neuroimmune changes. Systemic IL-6, CRP and NF-jB are consistently elevated in association with chronic stress-related depressive symptoms (see Table 1). Chronic stress induces increased Natural Killer (NK) cell function, increased Immunosenescence (i.e. lower CD4:CD8 ratio, higher proportion of CD8+ T lymphocytes (CTL) with an effector-memory phenotype or late differentiated (CD27�CD28�) and lower proportions of CTLs in early differentiation phase (CD27+CD28+)), lower CD4+ helper T cells, higher CD8+ suppressor T cells, higher CD8+/ CD57+ activated T lymphocytes and a higher CD4+/CD8+ ratio (Pace et al., 2006; Caserta et al., 2008; Bosch et al., 2009; Beavers et al., 2010a). TNF-a has also demonstrated to be induced by chronic stress (Amati et al., 2010).
Subjects with the short–short allele of the serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) polymorphism (which is correlated to lower serotonin availability and susceptibility to stress and depression) showed a pro-inflammatory state (increased IL-6/IL-10 ratio) when compared to long-long counterparts. This finding may be interpreted as a pos- sible biomarker suggesting stress susceptibility (Fredericks et al., 2010). In depressed patients, systemic inflammatory response is found to be exaggerated by acute stressors. Pace et al. (2006) found patients with Major Depressive Disorder having higher levels of NF- jB (inflammation-related nuclear transcription factor) when ex- posed to acute stress, as opposed to controls. A pre-clinical study
Fig. 2. Neuroimmunological effects of exercise in depression. Exercise impacts positively on neuroimmune mechanisms which in turn affect attenuation of depression and chronic stress (dotted line). Chronic stress impacts negatively on neuroimmune mechanisms which in turn affect initiation and perpetuation of depression (bolded line).
by Anisman et al. reflects a similar augmentation in inflamma- tion-related mediators after acute stress in mice with depression- like behaviour; a significant elevation in circulating cytokine levels (i.e. IL-6, TNF-a, IL-10 but not IL-1b, IFN-c) was found after social isolation stress in addition to chronic cytokine-induced (IFN-a) depression (Anisman et al., 2007). Acute stress results in a hyper- reactivity of the pro-inflammatory response versus non-stressed control (Maes et al., 1998; Steptoe et al., 2001; Bierhaus et al., 2003; Brydon et al., 2004, 2008; Kop et al., 2008). Chronic stress in the studies mentioned above was quite widely varied, such var- iability needs to be considered when comparing neuroimmune markers. It included parenting a child with cancer, care giving for a family member with dementia, early life stress, maltreatment and social isolation. There was also a wide variety of stress scales and depressive symptom scales utilised in these articles which diminishes the comparability of the different studies.
3.1.2. Pre-clinical studies There is a robust literature surrounding the neuroimmune
changes associated with uCMS-related depression-like behaviour in rodent studies (see Table 2). uCMS is associated with molecular neuroimmune changes in the CNS including increased proinflamma- tory cytokines (TNF-a, IL-1b, IL-6) (Sudom et al., 2004), increased complement activity (Ayensu et al., 1995), increased TLR-4, in- creased NK-kB, increased ROS (Lucca et al., 2009), increased COX-2 and PGE-2 (Guo et al., 2009). Increases in proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers are seen in plasma and in the CNS in various brain regions including then hypothalamus, pituitary, hip- pocampus, prefrontal cortex and cortex. There are no studies assess- ing stress-associated changes in inflammatory cytokines or oxidative stress markers in the amygdala. uCMS is also associated with increased systemic B cell reactivity, decreased systemic T cell reactivity, increased systemic T cell dependent/independent humor- al immunity markers and increased splenic mononuclear prolifera- tion (Azpiroz et al., 1999; Edgar et al., 2002, 2003; Silberman et al., 2004; aan het Rot et al., 2009). uCMS was also found to be associated with a decrease in hippocampal astrocyte density (Ritchie et al., 2004). Several studies support the evidence cited above (Kubera et al., 1998; Silberman et al., 2002, 2005; Munhoz et al., 2006; Pal- umbo et al., 2010; Rubinstein et al., 2010).
Stress-induced changes to neurobiological systems which were previously thought to be unrelated to the immune system have been discovered to influence the neuroimmune environment and induce depression-like behaviour. These include the cannabinoid system, IGF-1 and COX system (Duman et al., 2009; Guo et al., 2009; Beyer et al., 2010; Park et al., 2011). The interaction of these systems with the neuroimmune environment needs further exploration.
There are a number of putative psychoneuroimmunological fac- tors associated with the pathogenesis of depression (Kubera et al., 2011; Schwartz and Shechter, 2010a,b) (see Tables 1 and 2). The most well acknowledged understanding for the development of depression suggests that risk factors (mainly exposure to stress, but also genetic polymorphisms) combine to trigger a cascade of neuro-injury. Neuro-injury is thought to be mediated via activation of pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPS) and danger associated molecular pattern detectors (DAMPs) within the innate immune system (Kubera et al., 2011; Loftis et al., 2010; Maes et al., 2011). In addition there is modification of immune cell receptors (e.g. toll-like receptors) resulting in the overproduction of pro-inflammatory mediators like TNF-a, IL-1b, IL-6 and Prostaglan- din-E2 (PGE-2) in various brain regions (i.e. hippocampus, prefron- tal cortex and nucleus tractus solitaries) (Chang et al., 2008; Gibb et al., 2008; Maccioni et al., 2009; Kubera et al., 2011). Pro-inflam- matory cytokines can be released centrally (via microglia and astrocytes) or peripherally (via monocytes, macrophages, Th17 cells and other T cells) and certain cytokine signals are able to
Table 1 Neuroimmunological changes in stress-associated depression: clinical studies.
Study Study population (source and number)
Age, mean (range)
Study design
Stressor type Psychological measures
Biological measure Findings
Miller et al. (2002)
Oncology clinic, N = 50 37 Cross- sectional
Parents of children with cancer
CES-D POMS PSS
Expose blood to cort ? measure IL-1b, IL-6, TNF-a (i.e. measure anti-inflamm effect of cort)
” stress = ” depressive sx’s ” stress = ” IL-6
Kiecolt- Glaser et al. (2003)
Nursing home, N = 225 (55– 89)
Prospective 8 years
Dementia caregiver
PSS BDI NLS
Plasma IL-6 Caregiving = ” stress Caregiving = ” IL-6 Caregiving = ” depressive symptoms (Depressive symptoms were not correlated with IL-6 levels)
Pace et al. (2006)
Health volunteers, N = 28 (MDD in 14 subjects (DSM-4))
29.9 Prospective TSST Speech task Examination
SCID HDS ZDS CTQ (Early life stress)
Plasma IL-6 Lymphocyte subsets NF-jB activation within PBMCs
MDD = ” CTQ score MDD + ” CTQ = ” IL-6 TSST = ” IL-6 MDD > non-MDD TSST = ” NF-jB MDD > non-MDD TSST = ” NK cells MDD = non-MDD CTQ ns D with IL-6 or NF-jB D NK = ns D NF-jB and D IL-6
Danese et al. (2009)
New Zealand population sample, N = 862
32 Cross- sectional
NZSEI (SES) Childhood maltreatment measure RCS (childhood social isolation)
Psychiatric interview for MDD (DSM-4)
Plasma CRP MDD / definite maltreatment RR1.69 MDD / social isolation RR1.76 ” CRP / definite maltreatment RR1.56 ” CRP / social isolation RR1.60
Fredericks et al. (2010)
Healthy SS or LL 5- HTTLPR polymorphism specific patients, N = 30
21.7 Prospective TSST Speech task Examination
SCID LESS CTQ SSGS RAG SUDS BDI
Serum – IL6 and IL10 Genotyping
TSST = ” in SSGS shame and pride subscales, SUDS and RAG TSST = ” IL6, ” IL10 IL-6/IL-10 ratio ” in SS vs. LL at baseline and after TSST NS difference in IL6 or IL10 between LL and SS genotypes either before or after TSST At baseline, NS difference btw SS and LL for CTQ, BDI, RAG or LESS
Bob et al. (2010)
Unipolar MDD – inpatient, N = 40
42.3 (30– 58)
Cross- sectional
None BDI-2 TSC-40 DES SDQ-20
Serum IL-6 IL-6 / BDI-2, TSC-40, SDQ-20 IL-6 not / DES
NB: Level of significance set at p < 0.05. Legend: N = number, PSS = Perceived Stress Scale, STAI = State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, POMS – Profile of Mood States, cort = cortisol, CES-D = Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression, sx = symptom, BDI = Beck Depression Inventory, NLS = NYU Loneliness Scale, PSSS = Perceived Social Support Scale, ROS = Role Overload Scale, BSI = Brief Symptom Inventory, TSST – Trier social stress test, PBMC = Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells, NF-jB = Nuclear Factor Kappa B, EMSA = Electrophoretic Mobility-Shift Assay, AD = Adrenaline, NA = Noradrenaline, MDD = Major Depressive Disorder, HDS = Hamilton Depression Scale, ZDS = Zung Depression Scale, CTQ = Childhood Trauma Ques- tionnaire, NK = natural killer cells, CRP = C-Reactive Protein, DSM – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, SES = Socio-Economic Status, RCS = Rutter Child Scale, NZSEI = New Zealand Socioeconomic Index, vs. = versus CAD = Coronary Artery Disease, PCI = Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, sICAM1 = soluble Intra-cellular Adhesion Molecule-1, D = change in, / = correlation, HJSS = Healthcare Job Satisfaction Scale, GHQ = General Health Questionnaire, MSPSS = Multidimensional Scale and Perceived Social Support, SCID = Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-4, LESS = Life Events Scale for Students, SGSS = State Shame and Guilt Scale, RAG = Russell Affect Grid, SUDS = Subjective Units of
H. Eyre, B.T. Baune / Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 26 (2012) 251–266 255
reach the brain parenchyma through humoral, neural and cellular pathways (Ziv et al., 2006; Quan and Banks, 2007; Maes et al., 2011; Capuron and Miller, 2011). More specifically, these path- ways include: cytokine passage through leaky regions of the BBB (IL-6, IL-1b, TNF-a), active transport via saturable cytokine-specific transport molecules (IL-1, TNF), activation of brain endothelial cells which release secondary messengers within the brain (PGE2, nitric oxide (NO)), cytokine signal transmission via afferent nerve fibres (IL-1) and entry into the brain of peripherally activated monocytes via microglia production of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (Watkins et al., 1995; Plotkin et al., 1996; Goehler et al., 1999; Quan and Banks, 2007; D’Mello et al., 2009; Capuron and Miller, 2011).
Proinflammatory cytokines are thought to have an active role in molecular mechanisms that influence monoamine metabolism,
neuronal genesis/survival, HPA axis sensitivity to cortisol and certain cellular neuroimmune functions (Barrientos et al., 2003; Miller et al., 2009; Kubera et al., 2011). The cytokines can induce enzymatic activity increasing indoleamine-pyrrole 2,3-dioxygen- ase and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) whilst at the same time decreasing blood tryptophan and hence serotonin levels (Goshen et al., 2008). Reduced serotonin in turn creates more vulnerability to stress and sets up a positive feedback loop for continued neuro- biological damage. A byproduct of IDO/TDO is kyrunenine, a metabolite of tryptophan, which is further metabolised by im- mune-related cells in the brain (i.e. macrophages, microglia and astrocytes) leading to the formation of potentially neurotoxic com- pounds such as 3-HK and QA (Capuron and Miller, 2011). Neuronal toxicity may cause apoptosis with lowered levels of Bcl-2 and BAG- 1 (Bcl-2 associated athanogene 1) and increased levels of caspase-3
Table 2 Neuroimmunological effects of depression-like behaviour: pre-clinical studies.
Study Animal/strain uCMS duration (weeks)
Test Other Biological measure Findings
Koo et al. (2010)
Rat/Sprague–Dawley (WT and NF-jB/LacZ transgenic reporter mice)
4 weeks (atypical) Or acute stress exposure
Sucrose consumption
CNS infusion of NF-jB inhibitor or IL-1b
BrdU injection (neurogenesis marker) – SGZ, DG In vitro AHPs (nestin + brdU measured with immunofluorescence and TUNEL assay)
CMS = ; sucrose consumption CMS + NF-jB inhibitor – ; sucrose consumption Acute or Chronic stress = ; neurogenesis Acute or Chronic stress + NF-jB inhibitor – ; neurogenesis IL-1b = ; AHP IL-1b + NF-jB inhibitor – ; AHP
Silberman et al. (2004)
Mice/BALB/c 6 Sucrose consumption
Serum cort Splenic NE T-cell dependent (SRBC and allogeneic cells) and independent (DxB512 and LPS) humoral response determined. Cells exposed to NE, E and cort Splenic lymphoid cell suspensions were obtained Mitogen assay – PHA (lymphoid proliferation)
CMS = ; sucrose pref from 4 to 6 wks CMS = ” cort and NE from 0 to 3 wks (ns 4–6 wks) CMS = ; T cell dependent humoral immunity markers CMS – D T cell independent humoral immunity markers CMS = ; T cell response to PHA (wk 6)
Grippo et al. (2005)
Rat/Sprague–Dawley 4 Sucrose pref Hypothalamus, Ant Pit, Post Pit: cytokines Plasma: cytokines
uCMS induced anhedonia / ” pro-inflamm cytokines (TNF-a, IL-1b, IL-6) in the brain and in plasma uCMS = ” TNF-a Hypothal, Pit uCMS = ” IL-1b Hypothal
Tannenbaum et al. (2002)
Mice/CD-1 54 days FST IL-1b injection IP
PVN, ME: 5-HT Plasma: CORT, GH
IL-1b + uCMS = FST immobility IL-1b = ” cort IL-1b + CMS = ” 5-HT
Goshen et al. (2008)
Mice/IL-1r KO vs. WT (C57BL/6×129/Sv)
5 Sucrose pref Hippocampal: IL-1b, IL-6
uCMS = ” IL-1b uCMS = NS DIL-6
Litteljohn et al. (2010)
Mice/IFN-c KO vs. WT (C57BL/6 J)
42 days, atypical
FST Choc milk pref
PVN, CeA, PFC – monoamine levels (NE, CA, 5- HT) and their metabolites Plasma cort Serum cytokines – TNF- a, IL2, IL10, IL-4, IL-1b
CMS = ” cort in WT (not IFN-c KO) CMS = ” TNF-a in WT (not IFN-c KO) CMS = ” IL-2 in WT (not IFN-c KO) CMS ns D IL10, IL-4, IL-1b CMS = ” DA in PFC, PVN in WT and KO (ns in CeA) CMS = no change in NE or 5-HT in PFC or PVN or CeA CMS = ” FST immobility (WT and KO) CMS = ; choc milk pref (WT and KO)
Gu et al. (2009)
Mice/apoE �/� 4 or 12 Sucrose consumption
Serum cort IHC of aortic root – TLR-4 Western blotting of aortic root – TLR-4, NK-kB ELISA of serum MCP-1, IL-1b, TNF-a RT-PCR of aortic root – genes for TLR-4, NK-kB, IL-1b etc.
CMS = ; sucrose consumption CMS = ” cort CMS = ” TLR-4, ” NK- kB (both Western blotting, RT-PCR) TLR- 4 IHC also CMS = ” IL-1 b
NB: Level of significance set at p < 0.05. Legend: wks = weeks, NE = norepinephrine, DA = dopamine, 5-HT = serotonin, E = Epinephrine, PVN = Paraventricular Nucleus, PFC = Prefrontal Cortex, ME = Median Emi- nence, IP = intraperitoneally, cort = corticosterone, immob = immobility, PGE2 = Prostaglandin E2, COX = Cyclo-Oxygenase enzyme, CeA = Central Amygdaloid Nucleus, LN = lymph node, ROS = Reactive Oxygen Species, TBARS = Thiobarbituric acid reactive species, T4 = Thyroxin, T3 = Triiodothyronin, D = change in, MR = Muscarinic cholin- ergic receptor, LPS = lipopolysaccharide, SRBC = sheep red blood cells, DxB512 = Dextran B512, PHA = Phytohemagglutinin, PKC = protein kinase C, NKCA = Natural Killer Cell activity, IL-1r = IL-1receptor, Hypothal = Hypothalamus, Pit = Pituitary, IHC = Immunohisto chemistry, EMSA = Electrophoretic mobility shift assay, SGZ = Subgranular zone, DG = Dentate Gyrus, AHP = Adult Hippocampal Progenitor. NB: Increased immobility in the FST suggests depression-like behaviour. Specifically, immobility suggests apathy, disengagement and/or despair.
256 H. Eyre, B.T. Baune / Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 26 (2012) 251–266
(Kubera et al., 2011). It is important to note that a recent study in IFN-a-treated patients showed that CSF tryptophan levels re- mained stable despite decreased blood levels of tryptophan (Raison et al., 2010). This highlights the importance of conducting measurements in both the periphery and CSF (Dantzer et al., 2011).
Cytokines increase the activity and surface density of 5-HT, DA and NA transporters at the neuronal poles (Moron et al., 2003; Zheng et al., 2006). This increases monoamine uptake and turnover and decreasing concentrations in the synaptic cleft which subse- quently impairs neuronal functioning. The hypothesised reduction in 5-HT activity may exert downstream effects on BDNF transcrip-
tion via 5-HT receptor coupling to the cyclic adenosine monophos- phate (cAMP) response element-binding (CREB) (Mattson et al., 2004).
Treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a potent inflamma- tory cytokine stimulator, has been shown to reduce expression of the BDNF receptor tyrosine kinase-B (TrkB) (Wu et al., 2007). Cyto- kine activation of inflammatory signalling molecules include nu- clear factor kappaB (NF-jB), p38, mitrogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and STAT5 (Miller et al., 2009). Some of these have been shown to inhibit glucocorticoid receptor (GR) functioning through GR translocation as well as GR-DNA binding (Miller
H. Eyre, B.T. Baune / Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 26 (2012) 251–266 257
et al., 2009). This presents a potential explanation for why stress related hypercortisolaemia may occur. Stat5, a transcription factor, has been found to negatively regulate IL-17 production and sup- press proinflammatory cytokine signalling (IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL22, IL-26, TNF-a) by impairing Th17 cell generation (Laurence et al., 2007; Fouser et al., 2008; Ouyang et al., 2008). Other inflam- matory mediators such as Cyclooxygenase-2 and PGE-2 are also found to be increased in depression however their role in patho- physiology is largely unknown (Guo et al., 2009). Cell-mediated immune activation also takes place in the early stages of depres- sion, this is indicated via increased production of interferon-gam- ma (IFN-c), neopterin and IL-12 (Maes et al., 2011). Pro-inflammatory cytokines also have a role in impairing T cell function, promoting apoptosis and impeding proliferation (Caruso et al., 1993; Maes et al., 1995; Mellor et al., 2003; Clark et al., 2005). It is also important to recognise that some opposing evidence has been reported. Type 1 interferons a and b have been shown to pre- vent activated T cell death after antigen exposure suggesting that they act as survival factors for these cells (Marrack et al., 1999). Osteopontin, or early T cell activation gene-1, costimulates T cell proliferation and enhances IFN-c and IL-12 production whilst diminishing IL-10 (Ashkar et al., 2000; O’Regan et al., 2000; Chabas et al., 2001).
Evidence suggests a role for Treg cells in the pathogenesis of depression. These cells have been shown to have a neuroprotective function and also have a counter-regulatory effect on pro-inflam- matory mediators (Cohen et al., 2006; Ishibashi et al., 2009; Liu et al., 2009; Capuron and Miller, 2011). There numbers are de- creased in the disease state, and interestingly the cell population has been demonstrated to increase following successful antide- pressant therapy (Himmerich et al., 2010).
It has recently been suggested that an impaired physiological surveillance of neuroimmunological processes at the blood–brain barrier may result in failure of ‘protective autoimmunity’ in the central nervous system (CNS) mediated by a malfunction of phys- iologically circulating self-specific CD4+ T cells (Moalem et al., 1999; Schwartz and Kipnis, 2002; Schwartz and Shechter, 2010a,b). Chronic stress could be a potential mediator of this mal- function. Normally CNS surveying T cells, central to ‘immunosur- veillance’, contribute to the healthy brain’s plasticity (i.e. supporting hippocampal neurogenesis, hippocampal-dependent cognitive abilities and mental behaviour). The physiological sur- veying CD4+ T cells are skewed towards a Th-2 phenotype and re- lease intra-CNS regulatory cytokines (e.g. IL-4) and growth/survival factors (e.g. IGF-1) (Beers et al., 2008; Chiu et al., 2008). These CNS surveying cells ensure controlled trophic support, effective buffer- ing against cytotoxicity, antioxidative effects and general meta- bolic stability. This model suggests that in depression, impaired physiological surveillance may occur due to suppressed peripheral immunity. Such a suppressed peripheral immune system deprives the brain of these cells which are needed to restore homeostasis – damage ensues. Indeed, mice lacking CD4+ T cells show reduced neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory factors as well as increased TNF- a and superoxide (Beers et al., 2008). A depletion in CD4+ T cells also leads to reduced hippocampal neurogenesis, impaired cognition-like behaviour and decreased BDNF (Wolf et al., 2009). How the typical depression-related increased proinflammatory and oxidative state is linked to aberrant immunosurveillance is still under investigation (Schwartz and Shechter, 2010a,b).
Monocyte-derived macrophages have a role in the CNS for reg- ulating microglial functions by secreting growth factors (e.g. IGF-1) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (e.g. IL-10). These macrophages may attenuate the neurotoxic mediators (i.e. pro-inflammatory cytokine production and ROS production) released from microglia in depression (Schwartz and Shechter, 2010a,b; Derecki et al., 2011). It is suggested that astrocytes and microglia have a gluta-
mate mediatory role in depression pathogenesis. In a pro-inflam- matory state in the CNS, they have a role in glutamate mediated neuronal excitotoxicity (via modulation of NMDA receptors), reduced BDNF and ROS release (Bezzi et al., 2001; Capuron and Miller, 2011). Conversely astrocytes may also have a role in sup- pressing neurotoxic microglial responses which may be relevant to depression. The mechanism of this suppression is linked to the CD200 glycoprotein and the CX3CR1 receptor which both deliver an inhibitory signal to the microglia (Hoek et al., 2000; Cardona et al., 2006). However, the process of glutamatergic interplay, be- tween neurons and glia, in a pro-inflammatory CNS state, is com- plex and largely unknown (Hoek et al., 2000; Cardona et al., 2006; Vesce et al., 2007; Cali and Bezzi, 2010).
Depletion of circulating immune cells such as CD4+ and CD 8+ T cells and T regs exacerbates the disease process in several neurode- generative conditions including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases (Kipnis et al., 2002; Beers et al., 2008; Chiu et al., 2008). Cognitive impairment associated with bone marrow depletion of mice is reversed by transplantation (Brynskikh et al., 2008; Derecki et al., 2010).
There is a large amount of primary literature and reviews illus- trating similar neuroimmunological processes associated with other stress-related neuropsychiatric pathologies including Alzhei- mer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, anxiety disorder and schizophrenia. Reviews which summarise the clinical and pre- clinical neuroimmunological evidence can be found in the follow- ing articles: (McAfoose and Baune, 2009; Banks, 2010; Perl, 2010; Haroon et al., 2011; Kelley and Dantzer, 2011; Muller and Dursun, 2011; Northrop and Yamamoto, 2011).
3.2. Exercise in depression
Exercise has efficacy in the treatment of mild to moderate depression (Carek et al., 2011). Similar behavioural results are found in pre-clinical rodent models. In this review we propose that the therapeutic effect of exercise is largely attributed to its activity on the neuroimmune system (see Fig. 2).
Several recent review papers which assessed the utility of exer- cise in clinical depression suggest that exercise is a useful thera- peutic option (Mead et al., 2009; Strohle, 2009; Conn, 2010a,b; Carek et al., 2011). These papers have assessed prospective-longi- tudinal studies in clinically depressed populations. Exercise can be either a stand alone or adjunctive therapy, and has preventative properties (Baldwin, 2010; Rees and Sabia, 2010; Rothon et al., 2010).
The most recent meta-analyses from 2010 by Conn (2010a,b) included 70 studies with 2679 clinically depressed subjects and suggested that there was a moderate and statistically significant effect size for exercise in treating depression (supervised exer- cise effect size is 0.372 and un-supervised exercise effect size is 0.522). A recent review conducted for the Cochrane review database, with 27 articles in total and 907 participants, showed evidence suggesting exercise was effective in the treatment of depression (standardised mean difference was �0.82, equalling a large clinical effect) (Mead et al., 2009). After stringent exclu- sion criteria only three trials with adequate methodology were included and the overall effect was moderate and not significant. Important to note are methodological inconsistencies in this field, as discussed in 2009 by a Cochrane database review by Mead et al. (2009). Of consideration is inadequate allocation con- cealment, lack of intention to treat analysis and lack of blinded outcome assessment. Further, there is heterogeneity when assessing duration of exercise therapy, type of exercise therapy and intensity of therapy.
Exercise is hypothesised to impact mental health via a number of psychological mechanisms including: distraction to negative
258 H. Eyre, B.T. Baune / Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 26 (2012) 251–266
affect and hence rumination, enhanced self-efficacy, self-esteem, behavioural activation, sense of achievement/mastery and self- determination (Salmon, 2001). Depression may cause a reduction in physical activity via anhedonia and vegetative symptoms including psychomotor retardation and lethargy. Exercise has a propensity in reducing psychological stress, which recently has been correlated with the promotion of stress resilience (via posi- tive self-esteem) in adolescents and adults (Baldwin, 2010; Rees and Sabia, 2010; Rothon et al., 2010).
The evidence for the preventative properties of depression is mainly derived from cross-sectional evidence with a limited number of longitudinal studies. Epidemiological evidence sug- gests a cross-sectional association between sedentary lifestyles and depression, mainly in women and adults above the age of 40 with similar trends in adolescents (Martinsen, 2008; Carek et al., 2011). More longitudinal studies are required to further understand the role of physical activity in the prevention of depressive disorders.
As there is an increase in obesity, aka obesity epidemic, and an increase in the elderly population of ‘developed’ countries, and these two populations exhibit increased prevalence of depression, it is important to describe the relationship between exercise and depression in these populations (Lloyd-Sherlock, 2000; Laks and Engelhardt, 2010; Luppino et al., 2010; Finucane et al., 2011). Depression rates are lower in physically active overweight/obese adults. Physical activity reduces depressive symptoms in obese, depressed patients and physical activity pre- vents the onset of depression in obese patients (de Wit et al., 2010; Vallance et al., 2011). Higher levels of habitual physical activity are protective against the subsequent risk of develop- ment of, and relapse of, depressive disorders among older pa- tients (Strawbridge et al., 2002; Teychenne et al., 2008; Carroll et al., 2010; Pasco et al., 2011). Exercise is also found to be ben- eficial in the treatment and prevention of cognitive disorders (Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment), Parkinson’s disease, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and anxiety disorder (Ng et al., 2007; Baker et al., 2010; Gorczynski and Faulkner, 2010; Radak et al., 2010; Gleeson et al., 2011; Graff-Radford, 2011; Lautenschlager et al., 2011). A recent review provides evidence to suggest exercise may lower disease risk and/or have therapeu- tic value in treating coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer and type 2 diabetes mellitus via its anti-inflammatory effect (Gleeson et al., 2011).
Rodent studies suggest exercise decreases stress-associated depression-like behaviours (see Table 4). Authors such as Zheng et al. and Solberg et al. found exercise reversed uCMS induced anhedonia-like behaviour in sucrose testing after 4 and 6 weeks, respectively (Solberg et al., 1999; Zheng et al., 2006). Furthermore it was found exercise reversed uCMS induced depression-like symptoms on the FST (i.e. less immobility time) after 4 weeks (Solberg et al., 1999). Rodents models show physical activity can reduce stress-associated anxiety-like behaviours, schizophrenia- like behaviour and enhance cognition-like behaviour (Clark et al., 2008; Parachikova et al., 2008; Trejo et al., 2008; Nakajima et al., 2010; Wolf et al., 2011).
Unlike studies assessing the acute immunological effects of exercise, this review focuses on chronic exposure to physical activ- ity. This is important to mention given the numerous studies in both clinical and pre-clinical models showing an upregulation of IL-6 and IL-8 during and immediately after exercise (Fischer, 2006; Pedersen, 2009). The acute, transient upregulation of IL-6 appears to cause a rise in anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-1Ra (Steensberg et al., 2003). Interestingly, a recent pre-clinical study by Funk et al. (2011) suggests that the acute upregulation of IL-6 with exercise may be neuroprotective given it negates the neurotoxic changes of TNF-a.
3.3. Neuroimmunological effects of exercise
While the evidence been presented in this review suggests sig- nificant effects of stress on neuroimmunological changes related to depression as well as good efficacy of exercise in treating depres- sion, the potential neuroimmunological effects of exercise in depression still need to be explored from both a clinical and pre- clinical perspective. It is proposed the neuroimmune effects in the brain are ascribed to exercise’s therapeutic effect. The authors will conclude this section by proposing a theoretical or conceptual model for the neuroimmunological effects of exercise in depression.
3.3.1. Immunological effects of exercise: clinical studies Clinical evidence suggests exercise reverses neuroimmune pro-
cesses relevant to stress-associated depression-like behaviour (see Table 3). The studies in this field show exercise can decrease stress- related depression correlated with decreased IL-6, IL-18, CRP and TNF-alpha. There is evidence to suggest that biological changes in the brain relevant to depression may differ between aerobic and flexibility exercise, further there may also be an effect for the intensity of exercise on various biomarkers (Kohut et al., 2006; Hamer et al., 2009).
There are numerous studies which suggest exercise has effects on reversing chronic stress related neuroimmune changes. In these studies exercise is associated with a reduction in C-reactive protein, Toll-Like Receptor-4, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha and IL-1beta; an increase in anti-inflammatory mediators such as IL-10 is also noted (Tisi et al., 1997; Geffken et al., 2001; Church et al., 2002; Ford, 2002; Wannamethee et al., 2002; Stewart et al., 2005; Kadog- lou et al., 2007; Sloan et al., 2007; Nicklas et al., 2008; Campbell et al., 2009; Beavers et al., 2010b; Donges et al., 2010; Martins et al., 2010). These humoral neuroimmune factors are measured either in plasma or are derived from induced immune cells (i.e. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) used with Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs)). Beavers et al. (2010a,b) has carried out a thorough review investigating the impact of exercise on chronic inflamma- tion. Cellular neuroimmune factors modified by exercise include increased CD11b and CD66b PBMCs, enhanced gene expression from PBMCs (i.e. IL-5, IL-8, IL-2), increased Treg cells and increased CD14+CD16+ monocytes (Nawaz et al., 2001; Yeh et al., 2006; Timmerman et al., 2008; Coen et al., 2010; Thompson et al., 2010; Wang et al., 2011).
On the contrary, there are additional studies showing no ef- fect for exercise on inflammatory or oxidative markers (Hammett et al., 2004; Nicklas et al., 2004; Fairey et al., 2005; Marcell et al., 2005; Campbell et al., 2008, 2009, 2010; Christian- sen et al., 2010). These inconclusive studies are in a minority and, in some cases, may be attributed to a lower intensity or intermittent type of exercise. There are is also a wide variety of immune measures utilised throughout these studies. It is important to note that studies within this field may have limita- tions given they use in vitro measures to model complex biolog- ical processes in vivo. Further details about limitations with respect to immune measures were recently reviewed (Gleeson et al., 2011).
3.3.2. Immunological effects of exercise: preclinical studies There is strong evidence that exercise reverses stress-associ-
ated depression-like behaviour in rodent models (see Table 4) with the implication of a wide range of neuroimmune mecha- nisms. When investigating the effect of exercise on neuroim- mune changes in uCMS exposed rodents, exercise decreased IL- 1b, IL-6, IL-1ra, TNF-alpha and oxidative stress markers (Chenna- oui et al., 2008; Nichol et al., 2008; Parachikova et al., 2008; Gimenez-Llort et al., 2010). These changes are noted to occur
Table 3 Neuroimmunological effects of exercise: clinical studies.
Study Study population (source, number)
Age, mean (range)
Study design Exercise type, duration
Psychological measures
Biological measure
Findings
Kohut et al. (2006)
Community, N = 105 >64 years RCT Aerobic or flexibility exc, 10 months
GDS PSS CS SPS LOT
Plasma – CRP, IL- 6, TNF-a, IL-18
EXC = ; depression EXC = ” optimism Aerobic EXC = ; IL-6, IL-18, CRP, TNF-a Flexibility EXC = ; TNF-a ; CRP = ; depression Flex EXC = ns change in IL-6, IL-18, CRP
Hamer et al. (2009)
Healthy community dwellers, N = 4323
63.4 Longitudinal, 4 years
Self-reported physical activity
CES-D – (baseline and 4 years)
Venous blood CRP and fibrinogen
Moderate EXC = ; CES-D vs. light EXC group Vigorous EXC = ; CES-D vs. light and moderate EXC groups Moderate EXC = ; CRP vs. light EXC group Vigorous EXC = ; CRP vs. light and moderate EXC groups Vigorous EXC = ; fibrinogen vs. light and moderate EXC groups
NB: Level of significance set at p < 0.05. Legend: N = number, MADRS = Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale, GDS = Geriatric Depression Scale, PSS = Perceived Stress Scale, CS = Coherence Scale, SPS = Social Provisions Scale, LOT = Life Orientation Test, SAA = Serum amyloid A protein, – = not equal to, D = change in, ns = non-significant, T2DM = Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus, hs CRP = high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein, MetS = Metabolic syndrome, TLF = toll-like receptor, PGN = peptidoglycan, NOS = not otherwise specified, PBMC = peripheral blood mononuclear cell, NHANES = National health and Nutrition Examination Survey, CES-D = Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.
Table 4 Neuroimmunological effects of exercise: pre-clinical studies.
Study Animal Environmental exposures (exercise type/ duration and CMS/duration)
Laboratory measures Findings
Solberg et al. (1999)
Mice/ C57BL6 J
Vol wheel running/6 wks, CMS/6 wks FST Sucrose pref
Sucrose test CMS + EXC = ; sucrose pref vs. CMS alone FST CMS + EXC = ; immob vs. CMS alone Distance run CMS = ; EXC vs. control
Zheng et al. (2006)
Rat/Sprague– Dawley
Vol wheel running/4 wks, CMS/4 wks Hippocampal: BDNF, GR Plasma: cort Sucrose consumption
Sucrose test CMS + EXC = ; sucrose vs. CMS alone Plasma cort EXC = ; cort in CMS group vs. control BDNF EXC = ” BDNF in CMS vs. control
Duman et al. (2009)
Mice/C57BL6 Vol wheel running/4 wks, CMS/2 wks Prefrontal cortex IGF-1 (ELISA) Prefrontal cortex and hippocampal IGF-1 and BDNF mRNA (ISH) FST Sucrose consumption Other Mice treated with IGF-1 (peripherally) or anti-IGF-1 (centrally)
Sucrose test CMS = ; sucrose vs. Control CMS + IGF-1 (peripheral) = ” sucrose vs. CMS + vehicle FST CMS + IGF-1 = ; immob vs. CMS + vehicle CMS + anti-IGF-1 = ” immob vs. CMS + vehicle EXC = ; immob vs. sedentary mice ISH ns D IGF-1 or BDNF mRNA in any brain region
NB: Level of significance set at p < 0.05. Legend: exc = exercise, WT = wildtype, SED = sedentary, EXC = exercise, Tg = transgenic, ConA = concanavalin A, MCP-1 = monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, LPS = lipo- polysaccharide, MDA + 4-HAD = malondialdehyde plus 4-hydroxyalkenal, GSH = Glutathione, GSSG = Oxidized GSH, GPx = GSH Peroxidase, SOD-CuZn = Superoxide Dismu- tase, IGF-1 = Insulin-like Growth Factor-1, vol = voluntary, FST = forced swim test, EXC = exercise, CMS = chronic mild stress, GR = glucocorticoid receptor, cort = corticosterone, ISH = In situ hybridisation.
H. Eyre, B.T. Baune / Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 26 (2012) 251–266 259
in plasma and in various brain regions including the hippocam- pus, cerebellum, pituitary and cortex. There are no studies assessing these factors in the prefrontal cortex or amygdala. The changes are in direct contrast to the effects of chronic stress on the brain and suggest exercise has the ability of reversing stress associated inflammatory and oxidative mechanisms, this is in keeping with our model seen in Fig. 2. Exercise has also
shown to increase IL-10, hippocampal chemokine CXCL1 and CXCL12, and systemic macrophage released MAPK phosphatise- 1 (MKP-1) concentrations, although some studies are contradic- tory (Parachikova et al., 2008; Chen et al., 2010; Kawanishi et al., 2010; Sigwalt et al., 2011). The upregulation of these immune regulators is significant given their effect on glial cells and neuroprotective mechanisms. CXCL1 is known to have neu-
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roprotective properties in the CNS (Parachikova et al., 2008). CXCL12 regulates astrocyte mediated neuronal excitability and enhances signal propagation within glial networks (Innocenti et al., 2000; Bezzi et al., 2001). MKP-1 negatively regulates proinflammatory macrophages activation (Chen et al., 2010). Furthermore, exercise showed a decreasing effect on systemic CD3+CD8+ cytolytic T cells and macrophages, whereas no exer- cise-related changes in M1 or M2 macrophage markers were ob- served (Rogers et al., 2008; Kawanishi et al., 2010). Decreasing numbers of macrophages and T cells in the periphery may sug- gest there is migration to the CNS and hence these cells may be attenuating neurotoxic microglia and mediating other neuroregenerative processes (Schwartz and Shechter, 2010a,b; Capuron and Miller, 2011). T cells were increased in the hippocampus along with CCR2 (a microglial chemoattractant factor) through exposure with exercise (Parachikova et al., 2008).
Another immune effect of exercise is suggested by Duman et al. (2009) suggesting that the exercise induced elevations in IGF-1 (prefrontal cortex and hippocampus) had a role in attenuating uCMS-associated depression-like behaviour, which suggests a likely anti-inflammatory effect of IGF-1 (Park et al., 2011). Interest- ingly IGF-1 is implicated in regulating the neuroprotective pro- cesses of monocyte-derived macrophages and self-specific CD4+ effector T cells (Schwartz and Shechter, 2010a,b). Finally, Funk et al. (2011) suggests that IL-6 which is up regulated acutely in the brain following exercise may buffer TNF-a mediated neurotox- icity which may present a mechanism for exercise’s neuroprotec- tive effects.
Exercise has a neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effect on the brain and stress-related neuropsychiatric pathologies which include Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, anxiety disorder and schizophrenia. The clinical and pre-clinical evidence for these effects can be read in the following review articles:
Fig. 3. Neuroimmunological effects of exercise in depression. CNS = central nervous syst glucocorticoid, GR = glucocorticoid receptor, BDNF = brain-derived neurotrophic factor, quinolinate, 3-HK = 3-hydroxykynurenine, QA = quinolinic acid, MKP-1 = MAPK phosph
(Beavers et al., 2010a; Gleeson et al., 2011; Wolf et al., 2011; Yau et al., 2011).
3.4. A model for the neuroimmunological effects of exercise in depression
As previously shown, exercise has various neuroimmune mod- ulating effects which are relevant to both the innate and adaptive immune systems. In addition, several humoral and cell-based neu- roimmune mechanisms have been suggested as a result of exercise. Humoral neuroimmune mechanisms relevant to stress-associated depression, which are positively affected by exercise, include reduction in pro-inflammatory mediators (e.g. TNF-a, IL-6, IL-1b, TLR-4 and CRP), reduction in ROS, elevated IL-10, and increased CXCL1, CXCL12 and MKP-1. Modulation of pro-inflammatory cyto- kines and oxidative stress occurred in plasma and various brain re- gions including the hippocampus, cerebellum, pituitary and cortex. Cellular neuroimmune mechanisms positively affected by exercise, which are relevant to stress-associated depression, include de- creased CD8+ T cells, decreased macrophages, increased hippocam- pal T cells, increased CCR2 (microglial chemoattractant factor), increased CD14+16+ monocytes and increased CD11b and CD66b PBMCs.
Exercise may reduce inflammation and oxidation stress via var- ious pathways including (1) increased attraction of macrophage numbers into the CNS and hence enhancing their regulatory effects on neurotoxic microglia, and (2) upregulation of MKP-1 which plays an essential role in negatively regulating the proinflamma- tory macrophage MAPK activation (Chen et al., 2010). Exercise associated immunological mechanisms also include the upregula- tion of CXCL1, which has neuroprotective properties (Parachikova et al., 2008) and the upregulation of CXCL12 which enhances (a) glutamate release from astrocytes hence regulating neuronal excit- ability, (b) signal propagation within glial networks and (c) synap-
em, Th17 = T helper 17, COX-2 = cyclooxygenase 2, PGE-2 = prostaglandin E2, GC = 5-HT = serotonin, NA = noradrenaline, IDO = indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, QUIN = atase 1, Treg = T regulatory, IGF-1 = Insulin-like growth factor-1.
H. Eyre, B.T. Baune / Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 26 (2012) 251–266 261
tic transmission (Kang et al., 1998; Innocenti et al., 2000; Bezzi et al., 2001). Exercise also plays a role in modulation of hippocam- pal T cells which are responsible for neuroregeneration and for modulation of microglia.
On the contrary, it is unknown whether exercise has an effect on markers of immunosenescence, PGE-2, B or T cell reactivity, astrocyte populations, self-specific CD4+ T cells, Th17 cells or Treg cells. It is recommended to further investigate the potential effects of exercise on these markers to elicit the neuroimmune mecha- nisms responsible for the therapeutic effect of exercise on stress- associated depression.
Exercise leads to a reduction in visceral fat mass and is a com- mon lifestyle intervention used to treat and prevent obesity. The reduction in visceral fat mass is a possible mechanism by which exercise exerts its anti-inflammatory effects (Petersen and Pedersen, 2005; Mathur and Pedersen, 2008). It is known that an increase in adipose tissue increases production of adipokines including TNF, leptin, retinal-binding protein 4, lipocalin 2, IL-6, IL—18, CCL2 and CXCL 5, whereas anti-inflammatory adiponectin is reduced (Ouchi et al., 2011). Additionally, exercise may reduce systemic inflammation by inhibiting monocyte and macrophage infiltration into adipose tissues as well as stimulating phenotype switching within adipose tissue (Kawanishi et al., 2010).
The International Society of Exercise and Immunology (ISEI) has recently published two position statements which provide a con- sensus, from world-leading experts, on current knowledge in the field of exercise-related immunology, as well as information on continued controversies and future directions in the field (Walsh et al., 2011a,b).
The interplay of several neuroimmune mechanisms relevant to stress, depression-like behaviour and exercise are displayed in Fig. 3. It can be seen that chronic stress has an effect on pathophys- iological processes in depression (seen on the left) involving spe- cific cellular and molecular neuroimmune changes. These neuroimmune changes then modulate more general changes such as HPA axis function, monoamine metabolism and neurogenesis (seen at the bottom of the figure) to bring about depressive behav- iours. On the other hand, exercise appears to negate these general effects via opposing cellular and molecular neuroimmune changes (seen on the right) to elicit an antidepressive outcome on behaviour.
4. Discussion
Over the years, many investigators have established that there are neuroinflammatory and oxidative mechanisms associated with the pathogenesis of depression and stress-related depression (Miller et al., 2009; Kubera et al., 2011; Maes et al., 2011). Assess- ment of cell-mediated neuroimmune mechanisms in this disease entity is relatively new, and in need of further investigation. It is thought that astrocytes, various subsets of T cells, macrophages and microglia may be central to the cell-mediated interactions be- tween the various neurobiological processes involved in depres- sion pathogenesis (i.e. monoamine dysfunction, HPA axis dysregulation, neurogenesis-related abnormalities, inflammation and oxidative stress).
In the field of prevention and management of depression, exer- cise has shown clinical effects in humans and positive behavioural effects in rodents (Solberg et al., 1999; Zheng et al., 2006; Duman et al., 2009; Mead et al., 2009; Conn, 2010a,b; Rees and Sabia, 2010; Rothon et al., 2010; Carek et al., 2011). The mechanisms associated with the effect of exercise on depression are classically attributed to an anti-inflammatory effect, however these anti- inflammatory effects require further research (Archer et al., 2011). There is also a paucity of data investigating the cell-medi-
ated neuroimmune effects of exercise, i.e. modulation of T cell, astrocyte, macrophage and microglial functioning.
This review is the first to systematically draw together the liter- ature supporting a role for neuroimmune modulation as a mecha- nism for the therapeutic efficacy of exercise in depression (see Figs. 2 and 3). When clinical and pre-clinical data is taken together, exercise may reduce inflammation and oxidation stress via (1) increasing macrophage numbers into the CNS and hence enhanc- ing their regulatory effects on neurotoxic microglia, and (2) up reg- ulating MKP-1 which plays an essential role in negatively regulating the proinflammatory macrophage MAPK activation (Chen et al., 2010). Neuroimmune mechanisms associated with exercise also include the upregulation of CXCL1 which is consid- ered being neuroprotective and the upregulation of CXCL12 which exerts several enhancing effects on: (1) glutamate release from astrocytes hence regulating neuronal excitability, (2) signal propa- gation within glial networks and (3) synaptic transmission (Kang et al., 1998; Innocenti et al., 2000; Bezzi et al., 2001; Parachikova et al., 2008). It has been suggested that exercise also has a role in modulation of hippocampal T cells which are responsible for neu- roregeneration and modulation of microglia.
Surprisingly, it is unknown whether exercise has effects on spe- cific neuroimmune markers implicated in the pathogenesis of depression such as markers of immunosenescence, PGE-2, B or T cell reactivity, astrocyte populations, self-specific CD4+ T cells, Th17 cells or Treg cells. To clarify their potential involvement in mediating positive effects of exercise on depression mediated by the immune system, further investigations are warranted.
When investigating the neuroimmune mechanisms implicated in stress-associated depression there is a high degree of similarity between human and rodent studies. Similarities are seen in hu- moral factors, i.e. increased IL-6 and TNF-alpha; and similarities are seen in cellular biomarkers, i.e. increases in T cell and B cell numbers and reactivity. There are a number of neuroimmune fac- tors which have been investigated either in human of rodent stud- ies, not both though. These biomarkers include COX-2, oxidative stress markers, TLR-4, immunosenescence markers, astrocytes, microglia and other specific T cell types. Clearly, these markers are relevant for future investigation.
There is a robust literature found when assessing the neuroim- mune effects of exercise in relation to stress-related depression- like behaviour in both human and rodent studies. Exercise is seen to produce a reduction in IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, oxidative stress markers, levels of PBMCs, various chemokines, specific T cell pop- ulations and monocyte populations. However, the literature shows some disparities among the investigated immune markers being studied in either clinical or pre-clinical models, not both. In order to advance the understanding of the mechanistic immune effects of exercise, it required to study the same immune markers in hu- mans and animals as much as possible.
However, overall the large number of studies reviewed in this article are generally consistent with the proposal that exercise is a theoretical model for reversing or attenuating neuroimmune mechanisms related to stress-associated depression-like behaviour (see Figs. 2 and 3).
There are some methodological limitations which need to be considered when interpreting the results presented in this review. Research investigating stress-associated depression and its neuro- immune correlates (in humans) show a wide variety of stress types, durations and severities; there are also multiple stress and depressive symptom scales used. Rodent studies in this field have a degree of methodological variability including the uCMS protocol components used, uCMS protocol duration, presence or absence of depression-like symptom testing, species utilised (mouse vs. rat), strain utilised (i.e. variability can be seen in stress resilience/vul- nerability between strains (Palumbo et al., 2010)), ratio of species
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gender and brain areas investigated (i.e. hippocampus, hypothala- mus, prefrontal cortex and pituitary).
Rodent studies utilised to model and test depression are often criticised for their profile across certain validation criteria (face validity, predictive validity, aetiological validity, construct valid- ity and reproducibility) (Pollak et al., 2010). From the authors’ perspective uCMS, FST, TST and sucrose tests are deemed to rate relatively highly across these validation domains versus other models and tests for depression-like behaviour. Their validity is demonstrated in two ways – firstly, the congruency of behav- ioural and immune outcomes between translational results in humans, i.e. chronic stress correlates to depression-like behav- iours in both clinical and pre-clinical studies and likewise exer- cise results in a reduction in depression-like behaviour. Secondly, evidence produced by previously published authors suggests high levels of validity across the various validity domains (de- scribed above) (Willner, 2005; Kubera et al., 2011; Pollak et al., 2010).
Human and rodent studies assessing the positive effects of exer- cise on neuroimmune mechanisms, and depressive behaviours, are difficult to compare due to obvious methodological variability. This inherent variability is increased by the utilisation of different types, durations and intensities of the exercise investigated. This is important considering variations in these domains are related to differing immune outcomes. Additionally, variability is in- creased by inconsistencies in the immune markers investigated, i.e. certain immune cell types and humoral immune mediators are assessed in human or rodent studies, not both. Also ‘stress’ and ‘depression-like behaviour’ scales are inconsistently employed in this field, for example some studies will assess the immune ef- fects of exercise with a behavioural correlate, whereas other stud- ies won’t employ such correlates.
There are a number of recommendations for future research in order to further support the theoretical model of exercise as a neu- roimmune modulator in depression. In human studies the utilisa- tion of multimodal research techniques is useful as it provides a better insight into complex interactions. A study by Frodl et al. (2010) presents an example of such an approach where there was utilisation of genotyping, fMRI and psychological tests in MDD subjects. The research for neuroimmune-related endopheno- types in depression (i.e. single nucleotide polymorphisms for IL- 1beta, TNF-alpha and COX-2) an example, are a promising approach as recently shown by a study from this group (Baune et al., 2010). However, interventions such as exercise have not been part of these studies yet.
Moreover, it is recommended to reach a consensus regarding the psychological scales or diagnostic techniques used to mea- sure ‘chronic stress’ and ‘depressive symptoms’ which would in- crease generalizability and comparability across studies. It can be hypothesised that exercise or physical activity may potentially have a differential effect on symptom categories and subtypes of depression; however, very limited evidence has been pre- sented yet. The only example of a study in this field was com- pleted by Mata et al. (2011), and assessed the differential effect of exercise on positive and negative effect in depression. Clearly, further research in this area is needed. Looking at the effects of various types of exercise (flexibility, aerobic, resistance or combi- nation) with varying duration and intensity is another recom- mendation to enhance future research. For rodent studies, the use of transgenic or knock-in/knock-out species with genetic modification relating to the immune system (i.e. mice over- expressing pro-inflammatory cytokines) is a recommended strat- egy to enhance the mechanistic understanding. Further use of swimming exercise as opposed to classical wheel running should also be used (Sigwalt et al., 2011). Future studies in this area should focus on the effects of exercise on various subsets of T
cells, astrocytes and microglia as these mechanisms are relatively new to enquiry.
Finally, a systematic approach to investigating immune changes in depression-related brain regions, in relevant immune cell types (peripheral and central) and glial cell types will enhance this line of research.
5. Conclusion
Neuroimmunological mechanisms play an active role in the pathogenesis of depression and in the clinical efficacy of exercise in depression. It is recommended that further systematic research will help to elicit the neuroimmunological mechanisms and under- pinnings to improve the understanding of depression and to en- hance alternative treatment approaches to depression such as physical exercise.
Conflict of interest
All authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.
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Depression Gin S Malhi, J John Mann
Major depression is a common illness that severely limits psychosocial functioning and diminishes quality of life. In 2008, WHO ranked major depression as the third cause of burden of disease worldwide and projected that the disease will rank first by 2030.1 In practice, its detection, diagnosis, and management often pose challenges for clinicians because of its various presentations, unpredictable course and prognosis, and variable response to treatment.
Epidemiology Prevalence The 12-month prevalence of major depressive disorder varies considerably across countries but is approximately 6%, overall.2 The lifetime risk of depression is three times higher (15–18%),3 meaning major depressive disorder is common, with almost one in five people experiencing one episode at some point in their lifetime. Hence, in primary care, one in ten patients, on average, presents with depressive symptoms,4 although the prevalence of depression increases in secondary care settings. Notably, the 12-month prevalence of major depressive disorder is similar when comparing high- income countries (5∙5%) with low-income and middle- income countries (5∙9%), indicating that major depressive disorder is neither a simple consequence of modern day lifestyle in developed countries, nor poverty.5,6 Furthermore, although social and cultural factors,7 such as socioeconomic status, can have a role in major depression, genomic and other underlying biological factors ultimately drive the occurrence of this condition.8 The most probable period for the onset of the first episode of major depression extends from mid- adolescence to mid-40s, but almost 40% experience their first episode of depression before age 20 years, with an average age of onset in the mid-20s (median 25 years [18–43]).9,10 Across the lifespan, depression is almost twice as common in women than in men and, in both genders, a peak in prevalence occurs in the second and third decades of life, with a subsequent, more modest peak, in the fifth and sixth decades.2,11–13 The difference in prevalence of depression between men and women is referred to as the gender gap in depression and is thought to be linked to sex differences in susceptibility (biological and psychological), and environmental factors that operate on both the microlevel and macrolevel.14
Course and prognosis The onset of depression is usually gradual, but it can be abrupt sometimes, and depression’s course throughout life varies considerably. For most patients, the course of illness is episodic, and they feel well between acute depressive episodes. However, the illness is inherently unpredictable and, therefore, the duration of episodes, the number of episodes over a lifetime, and the pattern in which they occur are variable. Major depressive disorder is a recurrent lifelong illness and so recovery is
somewhat of a misnomer. In practice, the term is used to describe patients that are no longer symptomatic and have regained their usual function following an episode of major depression. With treatment, episodes last about 3–6 months, and most patients recover within 12 months.15 Long-term stable recovery is more probable in community settings and among those patients seen by general physicians than in hospital settings.16 Longer- term (2–6 years), the proportion of people who recover is much less, dropping to approximately 60% at 2 years, 40% at 4 years, and 30% at 6 years with comorbid anxiety having a key role in limiting recovery.17 The likelihood of recurrence is high, the risk increases with every episode, and, overall, almost 80% of patients experience at least one further episode in their lifetime.18,19 The probability of recurrence increases with each episode and the outcome is less favourable with older age of onset.20 Furthermore, although more than half of those affected by a major depressive episode recover within 6 months, and nearly three-quarters within a year, a substantial proportion (up to 27%) of patients do not recover and go on to develop a chronic depressive illness, depending upon baseline patient characteristics and the setting within which they are managed.21,22
Diagnosis The two main classificatory diagnostic systems (Diag- nostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM],23
Lancet 2018; 392: 2299–312
Published Online November 2, 2018 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ S0140-6736(18)31948-2
Department of Academic Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School Northern, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia (Prof G S Malhi MD); CADE Clinic, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia (Prof G S Malhi); and Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Division, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA (Prof J J Mann MD)
Correspondence to: Prof Gin S Malhi, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia. gin.malhi@sydney.edu.au
Search strategy and selection criteria
We searched PubMed for studies published between Jan 1, 2010, and Jan 1, 2018, with the terms “depression”, “depressive disorder”, and “depressive disorder, major”, with specifiers “therapy” and “drug therapy”, as well as “antidepressive agents” and “psychotherapy”. The search excluded articles on depression in the context of bipolar disorder, other psychiatric illnesses (such as schizophrenia), and medical illnesses. We restricted the search to English language publications and focused on publications from the past 5 years. We referred to older publications in the field, especially those regarded as seminal and those that have been highly cited. The search was updated in the periods March 12–16, 2018, and then again July 2–7, 2018, and the bibliographies of selected articles were also reviewed to retrieve publications deemed to be relevant to this Seminar.
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and International Classification of Diseases [ICD]24) rely on the identification of a number of key symptoms (figure 1). Notably, none of the symptoms are patho gnomonic of depression, and do feature in other psychi atric and medical illnesses. Therefore, the de finition of depression as a disorder is based on symptoms forming a syndrome and causing functional impair ment. Some symptoms are more specific to a depressive disorder, such as anhedonia (diminished ability to experience pleasure); diurnal variation (ie, symptoms of depression are worse during certain periods of waking hours); and intensified guilt about being ill. Other symptoms, such as neurovegetative symptoms, including fatigue, loss of appetite or weight, and insomnia, are very common in other medical illnesses.25
Both taxonomies, DSM and ICD, are widely used to diagnose major depressive disorder within hospital, outpatient, and community settings, but for research, DSM is the predominant classificatory system. In addition to DSM and ICD checklists, the severity of major depression can be quantified with rating scales. Therefore, screening tools have been developed to help
identify depression in various clinical settings, and some that rely on self-report can be used in a waiting room or online.26 However, several screening limitations need to be considered. One limitation is the absence of hierarchy among the range of symptoms that span several domains (emotional, cognitive, and neurovegetative), and which symptoms, if any, warrant priority or greater weighting is unclear. The only symptoms given some primacy are those nominated as fundamental, whereas the remainder carry equal significance (figure 1). In practice, this absence of prioritisation means that very different clinical presentations can qualify as having a depressive syndrome of seemingly equivalent severity, even though the clinical significance of the different presentations can vary markedly.27
In DSM-5, major depressive disorders are separated from bipolar disorders, with the key distinction that manic symptoms only occur in bipolar disorders.28 Major depressive disorder is the principal form of depression and is characterised by recurrent depressive episodes. The diagnosis can be made after a single episode of depression that has lasted two weeks or longer. If episodes of depression do not resolve and last for extended periods of time, this pattern is described as chronic depression. If depressive symptoms are present (on most days) for at least 2 years without any periods of remission exceeding 2 months, the condition is termed persistent depressive disorder or dysthymia.
It is crucial to note that major depressive disorder is different from unhappiness or typical feelings of sadness. To qualify as major depression, an individual must present with five or more specified symptoms (figure 1) nearly every day during a 2-week period, and the symptoms are clearly different from the individual’s previous general function ing. Furthermore, for the diagnosis of a depressive episode, depressed mood or anhedonia must be present.23 When depressive symptoms are present but are insuf cient in number or severity to be regarded as a syndrome, they are sometimes referred to as subthreshold depressive symptoms. These are important as they could serve as early indicators of a major depressive episode.
The symptoms of depression can be broadly grouped into emotional, neurovegetative, and cognitive sym- ptoms, but because they also commonly occur in other psychiatric disorders and medical diseases, detection of a depressive syndrome can be difcult. Some depressive symptoms, such as diminished concentration and psychomotor agitation, are similar to those of mania, and so, when formulating a diagnosis of depression, the possibility of an emerging bipolar disorder warrants consideration.29,30 At the same time, it is important to ensure that the symptoms of depression cannot be explained by an alternative psychiatric diagnosis, such as an anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, or a medical illness, or the side-effects of a medication. Anxiety is
Figure 1: Defining major depressive disorder Key symptoms of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5 for major depressive disorder. For a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, the individual needs to present with five or more of any of the symptoms nearly every day during the same 2-week period, provided at least one of these symptoms is a fundamental one. The clinical symptoms of major depressive disorder are usually accompanied by functional impairment. The greater the number and severity of symptoms (as opposed to particular symptoms), the greater the probability of the functional impairment they are likely to confer. The symptoms of depression can be grouped into emotional, neurovegetative, and neurocognitive domains. Importantly sleep, weight, and appetite are usually diminished in depression but can also be increased, and suicidal ideation, plans, or an attempt should be documented whenever depression is suspected.
Symptoms of depression (2 weeks)
Cumulative functional impairment
Fundamental symptoms Emotional symptoms Neurovegetative symptoms Neurocognitive symptoms
Sleep or
Depressed mood
Fatigue or loss of energy
Ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness
Psychomotor retardation or agitation
Anhedonia
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Suicidal ideation, plan, or attempt
Weight or appetite or
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common in the context of depression, and almost two- thirds of individuals with major depressive disorder have clinical anxiety.31 Anxiety symptoms often appear 1 year or 2 years ahead of the onset of major depression,32 and with increasing age, become a more pronounced feature of major depressive episodes. Therefore, anxiety can manifest both as comorbidity and as a predominant feature of major depressive disorder, sometimes termed anxious depression and described in DSM-5 as an anxious distress specifier (figure 2).33 Of note, depressive symptoms overlap considerably with those of bereave- ment,34 but if the symptoms of depression are severe and persist well beyond the acute grieving period, then consideration should be given to a separate diagnosis of major depressive disorder.35 Alternatively, a diagnosis of adjustment disorder should be considered when the symptoms do not represent typical bereavement but have arisen in response to an identifiable stressor (within 3 months of the onset of the stressor), or the symptoms produce dispro portionately marked distress that results in functional impairment but do not meet the criteria of a major depressive episode. This diagnosis can occur with either depressed mood, anxiety, or both.23 Imp ortantly, stressors are common in both major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder, and therefore stressors are not useful for distinguishing these diagnoses. The key differences are severity and diagnostic criteria of a major depressive episode.
Specifiers and subtypes In practice, it is useful to define the character of each depressive episode, particularly the current or most recent period of illness. This definition is achieved by use of specifiers, which define the pattern of illness, its clinical features (both signs and symptoms), severity, time of onset, and whether it has remitted (figure 2).4,35,36 Some of the clinical features generate putative subtypes
of major depressive disorder. For example, the specifier with melancholic features—ie, a diminished reac- tivity of affect and mood, a pervasive and distinct quality of depressed mood that is worse in the morning, along with anhedonia, guilt, and psychomotor dis- turbance—denotes a melancholic subtype. Such subtyping is some times helpful and it might have potential treatment implications.37 Melancholia is generally more responsive to pharmacotherapy and electroconvulsive therapy. Similarly, major depressive disorder with psychotic features (psychotic depression) often responds best to electroconvulsive therapy, especially when the psychotic features are mood- congruent—ie, feature depressive themes concerning death, loss, illness, and punish ment.38,39 Sometimes, alongside psychotic features, patients can have marked psychomotor disturbance40 and other symptoms that reflect catatonia.41 These subtypes of major depressive disorder are uncommon and most presentations of depression in the community involve symptoms of anxiety,42 described as anxious distress.43 Such presentations are less responsive to antidepressants, even though antidepressants are often used to treat anxiety disorders, suggesting that admixtures of anxiety and depressive symptoms probably reflect additional under lying psychological factors, such as those per- taining to an individual’s personality. Characterising depression in this manner is often helpful, and the use of specifiers to describe depressive episodes in greater detail is good practice that should be routine and adopted more widely.
Detection and screening Depression can manifest in many forms with different combinations of symptoms, which makes its detection more difcult, especially in the context of other illnesses. This mix of symptoms could also explain why depression is often missed or misdiagnosed in primary
Figure 2: Major depressive disorder specifiers Episodes of major depression can be described in greater depth by specifiers (outlined in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5) that provide additional information regarding the pattern of the illness and its clinical features. Specifiers can also indicate the severity of the episode, when it first emerged (onset), and whether it has remitted (status). For example, in clinical practice, a typical episode of depression can be described as suffering from a recurrence of depression that is moderately severe with melancholic features and has partly remitted in response to initial treatment.
1 Illness pattern
Single episode
Recurrent episode
Rapid cycling
Seasonal
5 Remission status
4 Onset
3 Severity
2 Clinical features
Anxious distress
Mixed features
Atypical
Melancholic
Catatonic
Psychotic
Early
Late
Post partum
Mild
Moderate
Severe
Mild
Moderate
Severe
Mood congruent
Mood incongruent
Partial
Full
Major depressive disorder specifiers
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care.27 Greater aware ness of depression increases its successful diagnosis, but screening for depressive illness at a population level has been problematic, which makes its overall detection and diagnosis more difcult.26,44 A substantial proportion of depression probably goes undetected and undiagnosed, and hence published statistics do not fully reflect the burden of the illness. The reasons for this lack of detection are complex and vary across cultures and different health systems, and alongside failures in detection and diagnosis, stigma is an important factor that has been difcult to quantify.45 Case-finding tools that can be used to identify depression are popular among clinicians, such as the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), which comes in three forms, all of which are brief and generally acceptable to patients.46 Such tools can usefully guide detection and the assessment of severity, but it is important that clinicians also assess contextual factors and general functioning, and do not rely solely on questionnaires. Given the prevalence of depression in primary care, routinely asking all patients about mood, interest, and anhedonia since the last visit is essential,47 and when more detailed screening is needed, the burden of administering questionnaires can be limited by the use of computerised adaptive testing methods.48 In addition to enhancing detection through screening, the diagnosis and treatment of major depression can be improved through educational programmes that have great effect on suicide prevention methods.49 However, as shown by a study in Gotland, Sweden, the turnover of doctors due to a 2-year term of service contributed to the requirement for a refresher programme on depression.50 Moreover, attrition in knowledge occurs because once no longer engaged in an educational programme, the general practitioner’s attention shifts to other medical conditions. Therefore, sustaining change in practice requires ongoing education.
Pathology Understanding of the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder has progressed considerably, but no single model or mechanism can satisfactorily explain all aspects of the disease. Different causes or pathophysiology might underlie episodes in different patients, or even different episodes in the same patient at different times. Psychosocial stressors and biological stressors (eg, post-partum period) can result in different pathogenesis and respond preferentially to different interventions. Investigations into the neurobiology of depression have also involved extensive animal research, but extrapolation from animal models of depression and the translation of findings from basic science into clinical practice has proven difcult.51 Therefore, to understand the patho physiology of major depressive disorder, focusing on mechanisms informed directly by clinical studies and examining both
biological and psychosocial factors can be more useful, noting that contributions from these factors are variable.
The monoamine hypothesis The observation, in mid-20th century, that the anti- hypertensive reserpine could trigger major depression and reduce the amount of monoamines, caused interest in the potential role of monoamine neurotransmitters (serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine) in the patho- genesis of major depressive disorder. The mono amine theory of major depressive disorder was supported by findings that tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) enhanced monoamine neuro transmission by different mechanisms, suggesting that this theory explained how anti depressants work (appendix).52 This model has endured, partly because of ongoing corroborative findings from studies that have examined the neurotransmitters and their metabolites, both in vivo and post mortem. The model also endured because other, more selective medi cations, such as auto- receptor antagonists (eg, mirta zapine for the adrenergic system) and serotonin agonists (eg, gepirone), are clinically effective anti depressants.53 However, this model does not explain the notable variability in the clinical presentation of major depressive episodes, even within the same patient, and why some patients respond to one type of antidepressant and others do not. Importantly, this model does not explain why antidepressants take weeks to work.54
Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis changes The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis has been the focus of depression research for many decades.55–57 One of the most consistent biological findings in more severe depression with melancholic features, and associated with changes in the HPA axis, is the increased amount of plasma cortisol. This biological difference is due to a combination of excessive stress-related cortisol release and impaired glucocorticoid receptor-mediated feedback inhibition. Notably, HPA axis changes are also associated with impaired cognitive function,58 and a failure of HPA axis normalisation with treatment is associated with poor clinical response and high relapse.59 Despite these insights, successful trans lation of this knowledge into clinically effective treatments has not occurred, and treatments that modify HPA axis function, such as glucocorticoid receptor antagonists, have not worked in clinical trials.60–62
Inflammation Peripheral cytokine concentrations have been linked to brain function, wellbeing, and cognition.63 Peripheral cytokines can act directly on neurons and supporting cells, such as astrocytes and microglia, after traversing the blood–brain barrier, or via signals mediated by
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afferent pathways, such as those in the vagus nerve.64 These mechanisms could explain why individuals with autoimmune diseases and severe infections are more likely to have depression, and why cytokines administered therapeutically, such as interferon gamma and inter leukin 2, trigger depression. The role of inflammation in the causation and exacerbation of depression is further supported by the finding that increased amount of interleukin 6 in childhood enhances the risk of developing depression later in life, and by the evidence of microglial activation and neuroinflammation found in the brains of patients with depression examined post mortem.65 These insights have prompted the examination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of major depressive disorder.66
Neuroplasticity and neurogenesis One of the most important discoveries in this century has been the identification, in the adult brain, of pluripotent stem cells from which new neurons can be generated, a process termed neurogenesis (appendix). The growth and adaptability at a neuronal level has been more broadly termed neuroplasticity, and it is possibly this neuroplasticity at a cellular level that is altered by inflammation and HPA axis dysfunction, both caused by environmental stress.67 The process of neuro- genesis is controlled by regulatory proteins, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is diminished in patients with major depressive disorder. Even more important, perhaps, is the fact that reduced amounts of BDNF in people with depression can be restored with anti depressant therapies, either pharma- cotherapy or psycho logical interventions.68 In animal studies, limiting neurogenesis prevents antidepressant action and has been shown to result in depression- like symptoms, especially in stressful situations. Therefore, neurogenesis has been suggested to facilitate resilience against stress, which could be the basis of antidepressant clinical effects.69 Post-mortem studies of patients with depression show a deficit of granule neurons in the dentate gyrus of untreated individuals, compared with non-depressed and treated groups. Patients treated for depression have substantially more dividing neuronal progenitor cells compared with an untreated depression group, and even compared with a non-depressed group.70 These findings are consistent with mouse studies showing that anti- depressants can work by increasing neurogenesis in the adult brain.
Structural and functional brain changes Advances in technology and computing over the past quarter of a century have had an immense impact on our understanding of brain structure and function, but meaningful insights have only begun to emerge in the past decade, as it became possible to scan larger numbers of patients and reliably combine neuroimaging data.
Structural studies in patients with depression have consistently found that hippocampal volume is smaller in major depression compared with people without depression,71 and some studies have related the degree of volume loss to duration of untreated lifetime depres- sion.72,73 Post-mortem studies have shown that dentate gyrus volume in untreated patients with depression is about half of that of both a non-depressed comparison group and a group of patients with depression who received treatment.74,75 Whether the smaller hippocampus can be reversed with treatment, and whether it is required for an antidepressant response, is yet to be shown in clinical studies.
Functional neuroimaging provides information about brain networks involved in key processes, such as emotion regulation, rumination, impaired reward pathways related to anhedonia, and self-awareness. Studies examining these networks in depres sive disorders have found that, generally, the amygdala has increased activity and connectivity, and other structures, such as the subgenual anterior cingulate, are hyperactive, but that the insula and dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex are hypoactive, in individuals with depression.76,77 However, the brain changes that have been identified in major depression are related to a highly heterogeneous clinical presentation and, therefore, are also highly variable, making it difcult to replicate results from study to study.78–80 Different types of treatment, such as medication, psychotherapies, and stimulation therapies, have different effects, and research linking pre-existing brain abnormalities to choice of optimal treatment is an area of current research.
Genes Twin and adoption studies have shown that major depressive disorder is moderately heritable.81 First degree relatives of patients with major depression have a three times increase in their risk of developing major depressive disorder compared with those who do not have first degree relatives with a diagnosis of major depression. Unfortunately, reliable identi fication of the genes responsible has proven difcult. So far, genome- wide association studies (GWAS) have identified multiple genes, each with a small effect, and until 2018, few gene hits had been replicated.82 However, current GWAS have begun to successfully identify risk variants and have shown replicable findings that might begin to inform the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder.82–84 Studies that have examined more homo- geneous cases with severe illness also appear promising and have identified loci contributing to risk of major depressive disorder.85 Given the variability of findings, in addition to genomic in vestigations, epigenetic factors are now being examined.
Environmental milieu The potential role of life events in precipitating and possibly causing major depressive disorder has long
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been recognised.86,87 For example, early studies examined the impact of stressful life events closely juxtaposed to episodes of major depression, such as preceding its onset by up to a year.88,89 These stressful life events in adults include life threatening or chronic illness, financial difculties, loss of employment, separation, bereavement, and being subjected to violence. The associations between stressful life events and depression have been found to be robust,90,91 though a subgroup of patients seems vulnerable to the effects of stressful life events and another group seems relatively resilient, possibly reflecting biological predispositions. A second approach has examined childhood factors, such as maltreatment including abuse, loss, and neglect, that appear to be associated with a vulnerability to develop major depression during adulthood when confronted with stressful life events.92 By stratifying adversity, such studies have identified at least two types of molecular variants that predispose individuals to major depressive disorder: molecules whose effects depend on adversity and molecules whose effects are present in all cases, irrespective of adversity.93 These studies have identified both pure epigenetic mechanisms and gene-environ- ment interactions. Animal and clinical studies have
linked early childhood trauma to later life depression via changes in the HPA axis, particularly glucocorticoid receptor hypofunction (appendix).61 Specifically, early exposure to childhood adversity results in DNA methyl- ation of key sites in the glucocorticoid receptor gene, reducing its expression.94 Thus, exposure to emotional neglect, or sexual and physical abuse, has an effect on the likelihood, severity, and chronicity of major depression (appendix).86,95
Epigenetics (gene-environment interactions) In the past decade, an exciting discovery is that the environment can directly impact the interpretation of genetic information, and that some genes are activated by environmental factors. This process has been described as the gene-environment interaction and it is determined by epigenetic mechanisms (appendix).96 Research examining this phenomenon has uncovered potentially new pathways and mechanisms by which environmental factors might have a role in the modification of brain neurobiology, altering, for example, neuronal plasticity.97,98 However, this new field faces considerable challenges, and although these discoveries are exciting and have stimulated further research in genetics, studies developing therapeutic approaches that can modify pathogenic epigenetic effects are needed before the potential exists for clinical interventions to build on these observations.93,99
Management of major depressive disorder When treating a depressive episode, the initial objective is the complete remission of depressive symptoms and broadly speaking, this objective can usually be achieved by use of psychological therapy, pharmacotherapy, or both.100–102 However, before embarking on a specific treat- ment path way, it is important to stop the administration of drugs that can potentially lower mood, address any substance misuse, and, when possible, use general measures such as sleep hygiene, regular exercise, and healthy diet.4,35 For mild cases of major depressive disorder, psychological treatment alone can sufce and an evidence-based psycho therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, should be offered first. This therapy can also be used to treat depression of moderate severity, but in most cases medi cation is likely to be needed, and a combination of pharmacotherapy and psychological treatment is prefer able. In cases of severe major depressive disorder, medication should be considered as first-line treatment, and electroconvulsive therapy is an option for those patients who do not respond to medication.
Psychological therapies Several psychotherapies are available for major depressive disorder.35,101,102 The most popular and effective psychotherapies are shown in figure 3. Each style of therapy draws on different conceptual designs which
Figure 3: Management of major depressive disorder General measures: before instituting any intervention, factors that can worsen depression and general measures that can improve mood and make management less complicated, such as exercise and withdrawal of medications and substances known to exacerbate depression, should be reviewed and instituted when necessary. Interventions: four broad categories of interventions can be used to treat major depressive disorder—generic psychosocial interventions, formulation-based interventions of psychological therapy, pharmacotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy. Strategies: in instances where treatments are ineffective or only partially effective, several strategies can be employed, combining different types of treatment or making individual treatments more effective. SSRIs=selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. NaSSAs=noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant. NDRIs=norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors. SNRIs=serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. MAOIs=monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
The main objective of treatment is the complete remission of depression with full functional recovery and the development of resilience
General measures
Goal
• Taper and cease any drugs that can potentially lower mood • Institute sleep hygiene and address substance misuse if relevant • Implement appropriate lifestyle changes (eg, smoking cessation, adopt regular exercise, and achieve a healthy diet)
Strategies • Combine pharmacotherapy and psychological therapy • Increase dose of antidepressant medication • Augment antidepressant medication with lithium or antipsychotic medication, or L-triiodothyronine • Combine antidepressants
Interventions
Generic Psychosocial • Psychoeducation – family, friends, and caregivers • Low intensity interventions (eg, internet-based education) • Formal support groups • Employment • Housing
Psychological therapy • Cognitive behavioural therapy • Interpersonal therapy • Acceptance and commitment therapy • Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
Pharmacotherapy First line • SSRIs, NaSSAs, NDRIs, or SNRIs • Melatonin agonist, serotonin modulator Second line • Tricyclic antidepressants • MAOIs
Electroconvulsive therapy Unilateral • Right unilateral • Ultrabrief pulse- width unilateral Bilateral • Bitemporal • Bifrontal
Formulation-based
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are used to build a framework of treatment, and each therapy has slightly different targets in mind.103,104 Cognitive behavioural therapy is the most widely available and best tested psychotherapy, which teaches patients with major depressive disorder how to identify negative patterns of thinking that contribute to their depressed feelings. This type of psychotherapy provides techniques on how to address these negative thoughts and, when possible, replace them with healthier, positive ideas.105 Inter personal therapy differs from cognitive behavioural the rapy, because it focuses predominantly on difculties within relationships, particularly interpersonal conflict and problems in social interactions.106 Overall, psycho therapies are effective in treating major depressive disorder, but it has been difcult to show differences between them.107 The reason for this difculty, according to one viewpoint prevalent in this field of study, is that the elements that determine therapeutic benefit are common to all psychotherapies and, therefore, distinguishing the therapies in terms of treatment effect is not possible. These common elements are related to the therapist and the therapeutic relationship, and involve components such as warmth, positive regard, and a genuine sense of care.108
An alternative view is that each of the psychotherapies has specific, and somewhat unique, therapeutic factors, and that they affect change via distinct pathways.109 Therefore, this idea argues that to determine differences between therapies, far more sophisticated tools and much larger studies than those that have been done are needed. In patients with mild to moderate depression, psychotherapies seem to be as effective as pharmaco- therapy. This effectiveness is not present in severe depression, because patients are too ill to engage with psychotherapy.110 The longer-term effects of some psychotherapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, have also been shown to persist for a year or more after treatment, whereas antidepressant medication only works while it is being taken. The preference expressed by patients for psychological interventions, their effectiveness in com bination with antidepressants, and their comparative efcacy and safety in relation to medications suggest that combination of the treatment methods might be the optimal strategy for managing major depressive disorder.111 Outcomes could be further enhanced as greater understanding of the mechanisms of psycho logical treatments is achieved and models are developed that provide greater explanatory specificity.112 However, in practice, the main limitations of psychotherapy are lack of availability because very few trained therapists are available and treatment is expensive.113 To overcome these issues, alternative methods for treatment delivery have been explored, such as providing psychotherapy to groups of patients at a time, or individually, but over the telephone or via the internet.114,115
Pharmacotherapy The pharmacotherapy for major depressive disorder has been founded on enhancement of monoaminergic neuro transmission.116 But newer antidepressants target other brain systems, like the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, melatonin, or gamma-aminobutyric acid (appendix).
Antidepressant actions The precise mechanisms by which anti depressants im- prove mood remains unknown, but most anti depres sants acting on monoaminergic neuro transmission produce initial effects within the synapse, which then impact intracellular signalling and second messenger pathways.54 These pathways culminate in changes in gene expression, neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity, and, ultimately, these adaptive changes lead to therapeutic benefit.117 The pharma cological effects of antidepressants are diverse and complicated, and the grouping of antidepressants into classes based on their principal pharmacological action is overly simplistic, but it remains useful in practice, when the clinical effects of antidepressants are broad and overlapping (figure 4).
Effectiveness of antidepressants Trials examining the potency of antidepressant drugs have traditionally focused on efcacy, and in clinical contexts have usually assessed this potency somewhat crudely, seeking a 50% reduction in symptoms.35 Some of the earliest developed antidepressants, such as the tricyclics and MAOIs, remain among the most efcacious drugs available, but are in minimal use today.118 In most settings, and in particular when first commencing treatment, these medications have been displaced by newer drugs with more pharmacologically selective actions and, consequently, fewer side-effects.119 Therefore, over the last quarter of a century, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have become the first-line antidepressant medication class, despite only moderate efcacy that can take weeks to produce a measurable benefit (figure 3). Furthermore, SSRIs can also produce significant side-effects that patients do not tolerate, including sexual dysfunction, weight gain, nausea, and headaches.120
In a network meta-analysis that compared efcacy and acceptability of antidepressant medications in the acute treatment of major depressive disorder,121 all 21 medications, which included the two WHO recom- mended essential antidepressants, amitriptyline and clomipramine, showed greater efcacy than placebo, with amitriptyline and some of the dual-acting drugs (eg, mirtazapine, duloxetine, and venlafaxine) at the top of the list. In terms of acceptability, only agomela tine and fluoxetine were more tolerable than placebo, whereas most antidepressants were on par, except clomipramine, which was more poorly tolerated than placebo. The study also assessed head-to-head
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com parisons, and many of the same drugs did better than other antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline, mirta- zapine, venlafaxine, paroxetine, and vortioxetine); however, analyses on aggregated data cannot identify effects at the individual level, and therefore, in practice, antidepressant prescription remains a matter of clinical judgment. Nevertheless, the finding that anti depressants are an effective treatment for major depressive disorder, despite high placebo responses, is reassuring. Further more, some medications are probably well suited, both in terms of efcacy and tolerability, to some types of depres sion, and can be tailored accordingly. Two examples are administering
sedative antidepressants for depression with anxiety or insomnia, and activating anti depressants for depres- sion with psychomotor retardation. Although reliance solely on the use of depressive symptomatology to select which antidepressant will work best is also not yet feasible (figure 3), combining this knowledge with clinical acumen does inform and improve management.
Managing suboptimal response Despite the variety of therapies available, a substantial proportion of patients do not respond adequately to the various treatments prescribed, having either a partial
Figure 4: Pharmacotherapy of major depressive disorder: antidepressant actions at the synapse All available antidepressants act on presynaptic and postsynaptic receptors, and neurotransmitter transporters. Consequently, the concentration of neurotransmitters within the synapse or within the presynaptic neuron is altered. These changes lead to signal transduction and secondary cell signalling within the postsynaptic neuron, eventually impacting transcription processes within the nucleus that lead to the development of new enzymes and proteins. Ultimately, antidepressants are thought to remodel neural networks by facilitating neurogenesis. The table shows the specific receptor interactions of various antidepressant molecules and their effects on monoamine transporter systems. These actions are used to group antidepressants into classes, although considerable overlap in the actions of different medications occurs and downstream processes probably converge. 5-HT=serotonin. R=receptor. T=transporter. NA=noradrenaline. HI=histamine. DA=dopamine. MAO=monoamine oxidase. mBDNF=mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor. TCAs=tricyclic antidepressants. NDRIs=noradrenaline dopamine reuptake inhibitors. SSRIs=selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. SNRIs=serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors. Adapated from Willner et al,54 by permission of Elsevier.
Agomelatine Amitriptyline Bupropion Citalopram Clomipramine Desvenlafaxine Doxepin Duloxetine Escitalopram Fluoxetine Fluvoxamine Levomilnacipran Mianserin Milnacipran Mirtazapine Moclobemide Nortriptyline Paroxetine Phenelzine Reboxetine Sertraline Tranylcypromine Trazodone Trimipramine Venlafaxine Vilazodone Vortioxetine
Presynaptic neuron eg, raphe nucleus, locus coeruleus
Postsynaptic neuron eg, hippocampus
Neural network remodelling
Neurogenesis
Cell signalling
Ca2+-dependent or MAPK cascades
cAMP
mBDNF
Transport of mBDNF to dendrites and axons
Blood vessel
PKA
CREB
Nucleus
Cytoplasm
ProBDNF P
P
CREB P
P MAO
TrkB R
5-HT1A 5-HT1B 5-HT1D R
5-HT T
5-HT1A R
5-HT2 R
5-HT1A R
H1 R
α2-adrenergic R
α1-adrenergic α2-adrenergic R
Muscarinergic acetylcholine R
NA T
DA T
G1
G1
G1
G1
G1
G1
G1
Neurotransmission
Maturation
Receptors Transporters
5-HT NA DA 5-HT1A 5-HT1B 5-HT1D α2 α1 α2 H1 M1 Presynaptic
Medication 5-HT1A 5-HT2 Other key actions Postsynaptic
Serotonin Acetylcholine
Noradrenaline Histamine
Dopamine mBDNF
Melatonergic
MAO
MAO
MAO
MDR-PgP
Gc
Gc Gc
GR GR
PKA
Neurogenesis
Endothelial cell
Neural progenitor
TCAs NRIs
SSRIs SNRIs
α2-adrenergic receptor antagonists serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor NDRIs
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response or no response at all.34,122 Within the framework of a randomised trial, the sequenced treatment alter- natives to relieve depression (also known as STAR*D)123,124 study examined many standardised steps in the manage- ment of major depressive disorder, using medications and cognitive therapy within both primary care and psychiatric settings. The study sought to examine the more clinically meaningful goal of remission, as opposed to response, and found that cumulative remission after four treatment steps was still only two-thirds (67%). The remission at each of the steps was 36·8%, 30·6%, 13·7%, and 13%. Although disap- pointing in comparison with results from clinical trials, the findings reflected real-world clinical experience, since patients often require a series of treatments and the use of several strategies to achieve remission. Such suboptimal response is often subsumed under the broad descriptor so-called treatment-resistant depression—a problematic term that has proven difcult to define, because of the heterogeneity of depression and the lack of a standard, algorithmic approach to treatment.125 The term is also misleading because it suggests that the illness itself is somehow resistant to treatment, when in fact many factors contribute to non-response, and these relate largely to how treatment is provided, and in what context.126 For example, alongside depression, psychiatric and medical comorbidities often complicate illness management and reduce the likelihood of responsiveness. Similarly, patient-related factors, such as willingness to pursue treatment as prescribed, personality, and age contribute to whether a course of treatment is likely to be successful. Generally, two-thirds of patients with depression will not remit with initial antidepressant treatment and, therefore, require careful reappraisal.4,35 In addition to exploring the factors already outlined, the diagnosis of depression should be carefully reviewed to exclude an alternative explanation, such as bipolar disorder or a personality disorder.
The treatments that can be used to tackle non- response are much the same as the options available when initiating treatment, but additional methods can be used with the aim of increasing efcacy.127 In general, the addition of psychological therapy to pharmacotherapy or vice versa has been found to be helpful.128 Psycho- therapeutic engagement enhances medication com- pliance, and difculties with pharmacotherapy are likely to become evident earlier. To increase the efcacy of antidepressant medication, especially in instances where it might not be reaching its target, one simple strategy is to increase the dose of the antidepressant.129 However, this result is not an increase of efcacy per se, and no clinically significant benefit has been found when dose escalation has been tested following initial non-response to standard-dose pharmacotherapy.130 Never the less, an in crease in dose could overcome pharmacokinetic limit ations. For example, some drugs
are metabolised quickly and can require higher oral doses to achieve necessary plasma concentrations. Furthermore, in some instances, dose escalation can increase the bioavailability of medi cation and enhance its receptor binding.131 This strategy is particularly useful for drugs that have a broad therapeutic range (eg, amitriptyline and venlafaxine).132,133
Augmentation is another strategy to overcome non- response. This strategy involves adding a drug that enhances the antidepressant effects of the medication already being prescribed. The most common strategy, and one that is effective in augmenting the actions of almost all antidepressants, is adding lithium.134 Once a steady plasma concentration has been achieved, the effect of lithium augmentation is usually evident between 1 week to 10 days. The effective dose of lithium for augmentation is equivalent to that used for maintenance therapy of bipolar disorder (plasma concentrations of 0·6–0·8 mmol/L), although lower doses and plasma concentrations can also be effective.135 Once lithium augmentation has produced a therapeutic response, the combination should be maintained as the withdrawal of either drug (antidepressant or lithium) is likely to result in relapse.134
Even though lithium augmentation is the most widely researched strategy, augmentation with atypical anti psychotics has become popular.136,137 This increase in popularity is because the atypical antipsychotics com- monly used as augmentation strategies (quetiapine and olanzapine) are both sedating and anxiolytic, even in small doses.138 Therefore, when prescribed alongside anti depressants, these atypical antipsychotics imme- diately aid sleep and anxiety, and counter some of the acute side-effects of antidepressants until the anti- depressant becomes effec tive. It is important to emphasise that the use of atypical antipsychotics is not widely indicated, and much of the evidence for this strategy is empirical.139 However, emerging evidence from clinical trials supports the use of atypical antipsychotics for augmentation while remaining aware of potential treatment-related side-effects.137 Furthermore, whether this strategy truly aug ments the actions of antidepressants is unknown and, because of the side- effects associated with these drugs when prescribed long-term, the addition of an atypical antipsychotic to an antidepressant should only be considered a short-term strategy. In some instances of poor response, triiodo- thyronine (T3) has been used to augment the effects of antidepressants to good effect,140,141 and stimulants have also been used.142
When patients do not respond to increased dose, augmentation, or a combination of both strategies, combi nations of antidepressants can be prescribed if a pharmacological synergy between medications exists because of their therapeutic profiles (eg, combining venlafaxine with mirtazapine).143,144 Nevertheless, the benefits of such strategies are largely untested. Another
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alternative is to switch to a new antidepressant, usually with a different mechanism of action.145 However, switching to a different antidepressant risks losing any benefit the current medication regimen has attained, and usually this strategy takes longer to implement than increasing the dose of an antidepressant already in place, or augmenting its actions. Alongside psychological and pharmacological strategies, when tackling poor response, electroconvulsive therapy is a useful alter native, especially if the depression has melancholic or psychotic features. Psychotic depression should be treated from the outset with both an antidepressant and an anti psychotic medication, unless the decision is to immediately use electroconvulsive therapies.146
Finally, all these strategies require careful and frequent monitoring from the outset to help compliance and maximise response. Non-response is sometimes an indication that the diagnosis is incorrect, and re- evaluation of both diagnosis and the strategies used is necessary before trying more sophisticated treatments.
Special populations The manifestations and management of depression are affected by life stage and special circumstances, such as during the perinatal period. For children and adolescents, the clinical presentation of depression and response to treatment can differ from adulthood, because of develop mental differences in biology and psycho physiology in children and adoles cents, and limited language and experience, which means they are likely to express their distress differently.147,148 Comorbid medical problems, cognitive compromise, and a greater causal role for vascular disease are more pronounced with increasing age, altering the clinical presentation and impacting manage ment.149,150 We discuss the consider ations about these age groups, along with major depression occurring in the perinatal period,151,152 in the appendix. In practice, these episodes of depression more commonly require treatment by a psychiatrist.
Future directions The fact that major depression affects many people, and has a huge impact on the individuals and imposes an immense economic burden, means that greater efforts are required to improve its diagnosis and management. This need applies especially to low-income and middle- income countries, where health-care resources are limited at every level. The heterogeneity of the illness, the stigma surrounding mental illness, and a collective failure to identify more effective treatments are key challenges. However, the primary problem is that our knowledge of the aetiopathogenesis and patho- physiology of major depressive disorder is incomplete and has (so far) not provided a sufcient understanding to develop more effective treatments. Prevention, early
intervention, and effective management are all crucial goals, but meaningful advances are only probable if basic causal mechanisms can be identified. In clinical practice, the goal of treatment must shift from response to remission, and, in the future, we should seek to achieve recovery and the development of resilience. Regarding these objectives, we seek earlier detection and diagnosis, and prompt treatment of depression when it first emerges. Major depression is fundamentally an illness of the brain, and this disorder is likely to be preventable, and even curable, once its aetiopathogenesis is fully known. To make that happen, substantive and long-term investment is required for research that makes full use of recent advances in neuroscience, genomics, and technology. Contributors GSM and JJM planned, wrote, and edited this Seminar, and take joint responsibility for its contents.
Declaration of interests GSM has received grant or research support from Australian Rotary Health, the National Health and Medical Research Council, New South Wales Ministry of Health, Ramsay Health, The University of Sydney, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly & Co, Organon, Pfizer, Servier, and Wyeth; has been a speaker for AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly & Co, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck, Pfizer, Ranbaxy, Servier, and Wyeth; and has been a consultant for AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly & Co, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck, and Servier. JJM has received grant support from the National Institute of Mental Health, and royalties from the New York State Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene for commercial use of the Colombia Suicide Severity Rating Scale.
Acknowledgments We thank Tim Outhred, Lauren Irwin, and Grace Morris for their assistance with literature searches, development of figures, and compilation of the Seminar.
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methodological analysis of the nonspecifics argument. Clin Psychol: Sci Pract 2005; 12: 174–83.
110 Weitz ES, Hollon SD, Twisk J, et al. Baseline depression severity as moderator of depression outcomes between cognitive behavioral therapy vs pharmacotherapy: an individual patient data meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry 2015; 72: 1102–09.
111 Cuijpers P, Sijbrandij M, Koole SL, Andersson G, Beekman AT, Reynolds CF. Adding psychotherapy to antidepressant medication in depression and anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis. World Psychiatry 2014; 13: 56–67.
112 Holmes EA, Ghaderi A, Harmer CJ, et al. The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on psychological treatments research in tomorrow’s science. Lancet Psychiatry 2018; 5: 237–86.
113 Mohr DC, Ho J, Duffecy J, et al. Perceived barriers to psychological treatments and their relationship to depression. J Clin Psychology 2010; 66: 394–409.
114 Stiles-Shields C, Corden M, Kwasny M, Schueller S, Mohr D. Predictors of outcome for telephone and face-to-face administered cognitive behavioral therapy for depression. Psychol Med 2015; 45: 3205–15.
115 Karyotaki E, Riper H, Twisk J, et al. Efcacy of self-guided internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy in the treatment of depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis of individual participant data. JAMA Psychiatry 2017; 74: 351–59.
116 Schildkraut JJ. The catecholamine hypothesis of affective disorders: a review of supporting evidence. Am J Psychiatry 1965; 122: 509–22.
117 Sharp T. Molecular and cellular mechanisms of antidepressant action. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2013; 14: 309–25.
118 Undurraga J, Baldessarini RJ. Direct comparison of tricyclic and serotonin-reuptake inhibitor antidepressants in randomized head-to-head trials in acute major depression: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Psychopharmacol 2017; 31: 1184–89.
119 Peretti S, Judge R, Hindmarch I. Safety and tolerability considerations: tricyclic antidepressants vs. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl 2000; 101: 17–25.
120 Moret C, Isaac M, Briley M. Problems associated with long-term treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. J Psychopharmacol 2009; 23: 967–74.
121 Cipriani A, Furukawa TA, Salanti G, et al. Comparative efcacy and acceptability of 21 antidepressant drugs for the acute treatment of adults with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Lancet 2018; 391: 1357–66.
122 Berlim MT, Turecki G. Definition, assessment, and staging of treatment-resistant refractory major depression: a review of current concepts and methods. Can J Psychiatry 2007; 52: 46–54.
123 Rush AJ, Trivedi MH, Wisniewski SR, et al. Acute and longer-term outcomes in depressed outpatients requiring one or several treatment steps: a STAR*D report. Am J Psychiatry 2006; 163: 1905–17.
124 Rush AJ, Fava M, Wisniewski SR, et al. Sequenced treatment alternatives to relieve depression (STAR*D): rationale and design. Contemp Clin Trials 2004; 25: 119–42.
125 Fekadu A, Wooderson S, Donaldson C, et al. A multidimensional tool to quantify treatment resistance in depression: the Maudsley staging method. J Clin Psychiatry 2009; 70: 177–84.
126 Malhi GS, Byrow Y. Is treatment-resistant depression a useful concept? Evid Based Ment Health 2016; 19: 1–3.
127 Kamenov K, Twomey C, Cabello M, Prina A, Ayuso-Mateos J. The efcacy of psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and their combination on functioning and quality of life in depression: a meta-analysis. Psychol Med 2017; 47: 414–25.
128 Jobst A, Brakemeier E-L, Buchheim A, et al. European Psychiatric Association Guidance on psychotherapy in chronic depression across Europe. Eur Psychiatry 2016; 33: 18–36.
129 Adli M, Baethge C, Heinz A, Langlitz N, Bauer M. Is dose escalation of antidepressants a rational strategy after a medium-dose treatment has failed? Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2005; 255: 387–400.
130 Dold M, Bartova L, Rupprecht R, Kasper S. Dose escalation of antidepressants in unipolar depression: a meta-analysis of double-blind, randomized controlled trials. Psychother Psychosom 2017; 86: 283–91.
131 Ruhé HG, Huyser J, Swinkels JA, Schene AH. Dose escalation for insufcient response to standard-dose selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in major depressive disorder: systematic review. Br J Psychiatry 2006; 189: 309–16.
132 Jakubovski E, Varigonda AL, Freemantle N, Taylor MJ, Bloch MH. Systematic review and meta-analysis: dose-response relationship of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in major depressive disorder. Am J Psychiatry 2016; 173: 174–83.
133 Debonnel G, Saint-André É, Hébert C, De Montigny C, Lavoie N, Blier P. Differential physiological effects of a low dose and high doses of venlafaxine in major depression. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2007; 10: 51–61.
134 Bauer M, Bschor T, Kunz D, Berghöfer A, Ströhle A, Müller-Oerlinghausen B. Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the use of lithium to augment antidepressant medication in continuation treatment of unipolar major depression. Am J Psychiatry 2000; 157: 1429–35.
135 Malhi GS, Gershon S, Outhred T. Lithiumeter: version 2.0. Bipolar Disord 2016; 18: 631–41.
136 Zhou X, Keitner GI, Qin B, et al. Atypical antipsychotic augmentation for treatment-resistant depression: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2015; 18: pyv060.
137 Zhou X, Ravindran AV, Qin B, et al. Comparative efcacy, acceptability, and tolerability of augmentation agents in treatment-resistant depression: systematic review and network meta-analysis. J Clin Psychiatry 2015; 76: e487–98.
138 Papakostas GI, Shelton RC, Smith J, Fava M. Augmentation of antidepressants with atypical antipsychotic medications for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder: a meta-analysis. J Clin Psychiatry 2007; 68: 826–31.
139 Philip NS, Carpenter LL, Tyrka AR, Price LH. Augmentation of antidepressants with atypical antipsychotics: a review of the current literature. J Psychiatric Pract 2008; 14: 34–44.
140 Cooper-Kazaz R, Lerer B. Efcacy and safety of triiodothyronine supplementation in patients with major depressive disorder treated with specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2008; 11: 685–99.
141 Rosenthal LJ, Goldner WS, O’Reardon JP. T3 augmentation in major depressive disorder: safety considerations. Am J Psychiatry 2011; 168: 1035–40.
142 Candy M, Jones L, Williams R, Tookman A, King M. Psychostimulants for depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008; 2: CD006722.
143 Papakostas GI, Thase ME, Fava M, Nelson JC, Shelton RC. Are antidepressant drugs that combine serotonergic and noradrenergic mechanisms of action more effective than the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in treating major depressive disorder? A meta-analysis of studies of newer agents. Biol Psychiatry 2007; 62: 1217–27.
144 Malhi GS, Ng F, Berk M. Dual–dual action? Combining venlafaxine and mirtazapine in the treatment of depression. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2008; 42: 346–49.
145 Ruhé HG, Huyser J, Swinkels JA, Schene AH. Switching antidepressants after a first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor in major depressive disorder: a systematic review. J Clin Psychiatry 2006; 67: 1836–55.
146 Heijnen WT, Birkenhäger TK, Wierdsma AI, van den Broek WW. Antidepressant pharmacotherapy failure and response to subsequent electroconvulsive therapy: a meta-analysis. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2010; 30: 616–19.
147 Thapar A, Collishaw S, Pine DS, Thapar AK. Depression in adolescence. Lancet 2012; 379: 1056–67.
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148 Asselmann E, Wittchen HU, Lieb R, Beesdo-Baum K. Sociodemographic, clinical, and functional long-term outcomes in adolescents and young adults with mental disorders. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2018; 137: 6–17.
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150 Byers AL, Yaffe K. Depression and risk of developing dementia. Nat Rev Neurol 2011; 7: 323–31.
151 Wichman CL, Stern TA. Diagnosing and treating depression during pregnancy. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord 2015; published online April 16. DOI:10.4088/PCC.15f01776.
152 Dietz PM, Williams SB, Callaghan WM, Bachman DJ, Whitlock EP, Hornbrook MC. Clinically identified maternal depression before, during, and after pregnancies ending in live births. Am J Psychiatry 2007; 164: 1515–20.
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Depression and anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric conditions, with an estimated 19.1% of U.S. adults experiencing anxiety and 10% experiencing depression in the past year.1 Nearly one-half of people diagnosed with depression will also experience comorbid anxiety. In addition, many will have symptoms that are distressing, but that do not meet duration or intensity criteria to enable a clinical diagnosis. Complementary and integrative therapies (e.g., exercise, meditation, tai chi, qi gong, yoga) are often sought by patients experiencing these con- ditions. This article provides a concise overview of the evidence on the effectiveness of comple- mentary therapies in treating these conditions.
Exercise A review of meta-analyses on the effectiveness of exercise for depression and anxiety disorders noted that aerobic and resistance exercises may
be effective for mild to moderate depression, but less so for anxiety.2 However, the study designs had methodologic limitations, including lack of consistent definitions for exercise type (e.g., aerobic, resistance), controls (e.g., other comple- mentary treatments, waitlist controls), outcome measures (e.g., remission, treatment discon- tinuation), defined clinical populations (e.g., symptoms vs. diagnosed condition), and sample recruitment techniques.3 These study differences increase heterogeneity and undermine the ability of meta-analyses to demonstrate clear and con- sistent effects.
A Cochrane review on exercise for major depressive disorder concluded that exercise had a modest positive effect.4 However, when lower- quality studies were excluded, there was no effect. Similarly, recent meta-analyses and systematic reviews found moderate positive effects of exer- cise for depression and anxiety, particularly
Depression and Anxiety Disorders: Benefits of Exercise, Yoga, and Meditation
Sy Atezaz Saeed, MD; Karlene Cunningham, PhD; and Richard M. Bloch, PhD East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, North Carolina
CME This clinical content conforms to AAFP criteria for continuing medical education (CME). See CME Quiz on page 607.
Author disclosure: No relevant financial affiliations.
Patient information: A handout on this topic is available at https:// www.aafp.org/afp/2010/0415/p987. html.
Many people with depression or anxiety turn to nonpharmacologic and nonconventional interven- tions, including exercise, yoga, meditation, tai chi, or qi gong. Meta-analyses and systematic reviews have shown that these interventions can improve symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders. As an adjunctive treatment, exercise seems most helpful for treatment-resistant depression, unipolar depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Yoga as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy shows pos- itive effects, particularly for depression. As an adjunctive therapy, it facilitates treatment of anxiety disorders, particularly panic disorder. Tai chi and qi gong may be helpful as adjunctive therapies for depression, but effects are inconsistent. As monotherapy or an adjunctive therapy, mindfulness-based meditation has positive effects on depression, and its effects can last for six months or more. Although positive findings are less common in people with anxiety disorders, the evidence supports adjunc- tive use. There are no apparent negative effects of mindfulness-based interventions, and their general health benefits justify their use as adjunctive therapy for patients with depression and anxiety disorders. (Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(10):620-627. Copyright © 2019 American Academy of Family Physicians.)
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treatment-resistant and unipolar depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).5-15 How- ever, these effects were not sufficiently reliable to assure short-term results or stable long-term benefits. Adequate trials on the role of interval training are lacking, although there are indica- tions that the physiologic changes produced by this type of exercise are greater and longer lasting compared with changes from aerobic or resis- tance training.
In summary, despite efforts to demonstrate clear replicable positive therapeutic effects of exercise on depression and anxiety disorders, evidence is lacking (Table 1).5-15 Although there seems to be more support for exercise in depres- sion vs. anxiety disorders, there are physical benefits for both. One analysis specifically rec- ommends exercise as an adjunct to medication in people with treatment-resistant depression.5 No trials have shown that exercise worsens either condition, so it is safe to recommend to patients with the understanding that additional medica- tion or psychotherapy may be needed.
Yoga Yoga is an ancient Eastern practice that combines physical postures, breath control, and meditation. There are several styles that differ in intensity, duration, and emphasis on each component. Two
systematic reviews and multiple individual stud- ies conclude that yoga is an effective treatment for depression.16-23 A systematic review compared yoga with other treatments for major depressive disorder and found similar benefits for yoga vs. exercise and yoga vs. medication. This review showed that yoga was less effective than electro- convulsive therapy for the treatment of major depressive disorder, suggesting that yoga would not be appropriate for treatment of resistant- depression for which electroconvulsive ther- apy is a treatment option.23 However, one study has shown long-term effectiveness of yoga as an adjunctive treatment for women with persistent depression.24 Yoga also demonstrated effectiveness in relieving depression in the perinatal period, but results varied based on the style of yoga.22,25 Exercise-based yoga was not effective in reducing depressive symptoms in the perinatal period, but integrative styles with stronger emphasis on med- itation and breath control were effective.26
Indications for yoga in the treatment of anx- iety disorders are less clear. A meta-analysis of hatha yoga (the most common style in the United States) found that people with more severe symp- toms benefitted most.27 However, the overall effect was relatively small, which suggests that it is best used as an adjunctive treatment with cognitive behavior therapy, selective serotonin
SORT: KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRACTICE
Clinical recommendation Evidence rating Comments
Exercise can be a modestly beneficial adjunc- tive treatment option for depressive and anxiety disorders, especially treatment-resistant depres- sion, unipolar depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder.
B Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses show positive effects of exercise on depressive5-10 and anxiety disorders,11-13 but the strength of these effects varies. General health benefits justify its use as an adjunctive intervention for depression and anxiety disorders.
Yoga is a therapeutic option for depression and has positive effects in people with anxiety disor- ders, particularly panic disorder.
B Yoga can be suggested as a monotherapy for depression, but it is pre- ferred as an adjunctive treatment for depression and anxiety.22,26,27,31 The optimal frequency and duration are not clear, but studies have shown symptom reduction with one 60-minute session per week.16,29
Tai chi and qi gong have inconsistent effec- tiveness as complementary treatments for depression and anxiety.
B Tai chi and qi gong have shown inconsistent effects on anxiety and depression in several small studies. In studies that demonstrate ben- efits, their effect on depressive and anxiety symptoms is small.34-36
Mindfulness-based interventions are effective as adjunctive treatment for depression, with positive effects persisting through follow-up. Their effects on anxiety disorders also seem to be positive.
B There is limited support for mindfulness-based interventions as a monotherapy for depression or anxiety disorders, although they may be effective for preventing relapse or as an adjunctive treat- ment.28,38,44 Until further adequately powered trials are conducted, physicians should use caution in recommending these interventions as a first-line treatment for anxiety or depressive disorders.
A = consistent, good-quality patient-oriented evidence; B = inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence; C = consensus, disease- oriented evidence, usual practice, expert opinion, or case series. For information about the SORT evidence rating system, go to https:// www.aafp. org/afpsort.
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DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
reuptake inhibitors, or other antianxiety medi- cations. Some studies suggest that yoga may be more effective at reducing anxiety symptoms compared with no treatment17,19,28-30; however, other studies do not show symptom improve- ment.16,25 One study showed that yoga as mono- therapy or adjunctive therapy is effective in the treatment of panic disorder.29
There is not enough evidence to determine the optimal duration or frequency of yoga. Ini- tial studies found no difference in reductions of depression symptoms when yoga was practiced once vs. twice per week.21,28 However, more fre- quent sessions are associated with reductions in anxiety symptoms. The duration in most reports
was three to 24 weeks, with frequencies varying from once per week to daily for 40 to 100 minutes per session.
In summary, yoga can be suggested as a mono- therapy for depression, but it is preferred as an adjunctive treatment for depression and anxiety disorders (Table 2).16-31 The optimal frequency and duration are unclear, but studies have shown symptom reduction with one 60-minute session per week.
Tai Chi and Qi Gong Tai chi and qi gong are mind and body practices that combine postures and gentle movements with mental focus, breathing, and relaxation.
TABLE 1
Effectiveness of Exercise for Treatment of Depression and Anxiety
Evidence source Findings
Systematic review of studies of exercise for unipolar or bipolar depression5
Exercise plus SSRI therapy was more effective than other treatments, especially for treatment-resistant depression
Meta-analysis of 23 RCTs of exercise for unipolar depression or depressive symptoms6
Exercise was generally helpful, particularly in studies of unipolar depres- sion; positive effects were reduced in studies with validity steps and no longer present at follow-up
Summary of meta-analyses and systematic reviews of complementary and alternative medicine therapies for MDD 7
Recommended 30 minutes of supervised aerobic or resistance exercise three times per week for mild to moderate MDD, and as adjunctive ther- apy for moderate to severe MDD
Meta-analysis of 41 studies with participants experiencing MDD or subclinical depressive symptoms8
Significantly large control group response in exercise trials made evaluting the actual effects of exercise challenging
Meta-analysis of 25 RCTs with participants experiencing MDD; investigated the effect of publication bias9
Removing publication bias, which underestimated effects, increased positive effects of exercise
Meta-analysis of 35 RCTs with participants experiencing clinically diagnosed MDD; included trials from China and South America10
Inclusive analysis showed moderate positive effect for exercise, which was eliminated when trials were limited to low risk of bias
Meta-analysis of eight RCTs of exercise for clinically diagnosed anxiety 11
Exercise had moderate positive effects on anxiety but was less effective than SSRIs; aerobic and nonaerobic exercises were effective
Qualitative review of 12 RCTs and five meta-analyses of exercise for clinically diagnosed anxiety or subclinical anxiety symptoms12
Exercise had mild positive effects, but methodologic problems led authors to withhold recommendation for use in anxiety disorders
Meta-analysis of six RCTs with participants experiencing clinically diagnosed anxiety disorder and/or stress- related disorder13
Exercise significantly reduced anxiety with moderate effect size; exclusion of trials for posttraumatic stress disorder eliminated effect
Meta-analysis of seven RCTs with participants experiencing clinically diagnosed anxiety14
No overall effect for aerobic exercise; cognitive behavior therapy or med- ication was significantly more effective than aerobic exercise; exercise was more effective than waitlist controls but not other controls; did not recommend aerobic exercise for anxiety disorders
Meta-analysis and network analysis of MDD15 No differences between exercise and antidepressants or other comple- mentary and alternative therapies
MDD = major depressive disorder; SSRI = selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor; RCT = randomized controlled trial.
Information from references 5 through 15.
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The movements can be practiced while walking, standing, or sitting. Although limited, the litera- ture on these practices suggests that tai chi and qi gong may be effective in alleviating symptoms of
depression.32,33 However, systematic reviews and meta-analyses have shown variable effectiveness based on the study population and methodologic rigor.34,35 One meta-analysis of tai chi’s effect
TABLE 2
Effectiveness of Yoga for Treatment of Depression and Anxiety
Evidence source Findings
RCT of 60 minutes of yoga per week for six weeks vs. usual treatment (medication with or without therapy) in people with symptoms of depression and anxiety16
Depression scores significantly improved in yoga group compared with waitlist control; no significant reduction in anxiety scores
Three-arm RCT (yoga vs. meditation vs. control) in college students with depression and/or anxiety17
Depression and anxiety significantly improved in yoga and meditation groups compared with control, but did not significantly differ from each other
RCT of yoga in treatment-naive people with mild to moderate major depressive disorder18
Yoga participants had greater reduction in symptoms compared with control and were more likely to achieve remission; effect size suggested significant reduction in symptoms
RCT of yoga in older women with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety19
Yoga reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety compared with controls
RCT of yoga vs. waitlist control in male military veter- ans with posttraumatic stress disorder 20
Yoga had largest effect on symptoms of hyperarousal and reexperiencing symptoms, and had significant effect on general distress and anxious arousal
Dosing trial assessing differences in symptom reduc- tion between low-dose yoga (two 90-minute sessions per week plus three home sessions) vs. high-dose yoga (three 90-minute sessions plus four home sessions)21
No differences in compliance, rate of response, or remission between high- and low-dose groups immediately after intervention; at 12 weeks, high-dose group had more participants in remission
Meta-analysis of 12 RCTs of yoga vs. controls22 Moderate short-term effects of yoga compared with usual treatment; effects are less than or equal to those of relaxation and aerobic exercise; limited evidence of effect for anxiety
Systematic review of seven RCTs of yoga vs. controls for major depressive disorder 23
Similar effects between yoga and other evidence-based treatments (e.g., medication, exercise)
RCT of adjunctive yoga vs. health maintenance control in people with persistent major depressive disorder 24
No difference between yoga and control groups; yoga participants were more likely to show treatment response at three months
RCT of yoga vs. usual treatment in pregnant women with symptoms of depression and anxiety 25
Depression scores significantly improved in both groups, but yoga group had greater improvement in negative affect over time; no difference in anxiety symptom reduction
Meta-analysis of six RCTs of yoga for perinatal depression26
Depression was significantly reduced in yoga groups compared with controls; integrated yoga interventions significantly lowered prenatal depression, but exercise-based yoga did not
Meta-analysis of 17 studies of yoga for anxiety 27 Hatha yoga significantly reduced anxiety compared with waitlist controls, with moderate effect size; effectiveness was associated with total number of hours practiced
Three-arm RCT (weekly vs. twice-weekly yoga vs. waitlist control) in women with depression and/or anxiety 28
Both yoga groups had significantly reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety compared with control; reductions were similar in yoga groups; compliance was greater in yoga group with fewer sessions
RCT of yoga vs. yoga plus cognitive behavior therapy in people with panic disorder 29
Both groups had significant improvement in panic symptoms, but the com- bination group had nonsignificantly greater improvement
Three-arm RCT (yoga with relaxation vs. integrated yoga vs. nonactive control) in women with anxiety 30
Both yoga groups had significant decreases in anxiety compared with con- trol, with integrated yoga protocol showing greatest reduction
RCT of yoga vs. usual treatment in women with breast cancer and comorbid anxiety disorder 31
Significant improvement in state and trait anxiety compared with usual treatment
RCT = randomized controlled trial.
Information from references 16 through 31.
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on depression symptoms found greater benefits among studies that included people with more severe symptoms, but some studies found small overall effects.34 The actual effect on depression symptoms is likely small. Similarly, qi gong has a small but variable effect on depression.
Another study showed that tai chi reduces anxiety among older adults with anxiety disor- ders who are receiving medical therapy.36 It found that anxiety recurrence rates were significantly lower among those in the tai chi group compared with the control group (9.09% vs. 42.86%, respec- tively). A study investigating a qi gong–based stress-reduction program found greater reduc- tions in state and trait anxiety among partici- pants in the treatment group.37 However, these results contradict a meta-analysis of four ran- domized controlled trials (RCTs) that did not find qi gong to be beneficial for the reduction of anxiety symptoms.35 In summary, there is a small body of literature showing mixed results for these interventions.
Mindfulness-Based Meditation There is no consensus on a definition of medita- tion. However, it is generally agreed that it is a form of mental training that requires calming the mind with the goal of achieving a state of “detached observation.” Meditation approaches that have been studied in people with depression and anxiety disorders include mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), mindfulness-based train- ing, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Although these approaches differ, they all rely on calming the mind as their core modality.
A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of MBIs for psychiatric disorders found the clearest evidence for their use for depression.38 MBIs were superior to no treatment and other active thera- pies, and equivalent to evidence-based treatments such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Another meta-analysis that included patients with clinically diagnosed anxiety and mood dis- orders showed that MBIs were moderately effec- tive in reducing anxiety symptoms and improving mood.39 Effect sizes were robust and did not seem to depend on the number of sessions. Moreover, improvements were sustained over an average of 27 weeks (median: 12 weeks). A systematic review of 209 studies found effect size estimates
suggesting that mindfulness-based training was moderately effective in reducing depression and anxiety symptoms in pre-post and waitlist con- trol comparisons, and when compared with other active treatments, including other psychological treatments.40 Mindfulness-based training was as effective as cognitive behavior therapy, other behavioral therapies, and pharmacologic treat- ments. The authors concluded that mindfulness- based training is an effective treatment for a vari- ety of psychological conditions, and was espe- cially effective in reducing anxiety, depression, and stress.
Not all studies showed immediate benefit. A meta-analysis of RCTs showed that MBIs were effective in people currently experiencing an epi- sode of depression, but not for anxiety.41 It found significant postintervention differences between groups of participants with depressive disorders, with a large effect size on primary symptom severity favoring the intervention. Evidence for benefit in anxiety was lacking.
A 2012 literature review concluded that there was growing evidence supporting MBIs in the prevention of depression and anxiety relapse.42 Another study with a two-year follow-up found that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy was as effective as subspecialist care in people with recurrent depression, and that it seemed to work well when combined with antidepressants.43
MBIs are typically integrated into a larger ther- apeutic framework, and it is not clear whether stand-alone MBIs are beneficial without such a framework. A systematic review and meta- analysis of the effects of stand-alone MBIs on symptoms of anxiety and depression concluded that these exercises had small to medium effects on anxiety compared with controls.44 This was the first meta-analysis to show that regular per- formance of mindfulness-based approaches is beneficial, even if they are not integrated into a larger therapeutic framework.
MBIs may be helpful for some subgroups of patients with depression and anxiety disorders, but results are mixed. One RCT found that mind- fulness-based cognitive therapy reduced symp- toms of depression in people with a traumatic brain injury.45 A meta-analysis of MBIs in adults with PTSD found 10 RCTs that met inclusion criteria.46 Adjunctive mindfulness-based stress reduction, yoga, and a mantra repetition program
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improved symptoms of PTSD and depression com- pared with controls, but the findings were based on low- to moderate-quality evidence. Effects were positive but not statistically significant for quality of life and anxiety, and no studies addressed func- tional status. An RCT reported that mindfulness- based stress reduction in veterans resulted in a greater decrease in PTSD symptom severity compared with present-centered group ther- apy (a standard non–trauma-focused treatment for PTSD).47 Although meditation seems to be effective for PTSD symptoms, more high-quality studies are needed with samples large enough to detect statistical differences in outcomes.46
Some studies have evaluated MBIs for treat- ment of social anxiety disorder 48,49 and panic dis- order 50 with encouraging results. However, until adequately powered trials are conducted, clini- cians should use caution in offering these treat- ments as first-line interventions for social anxiety and panic disorders.
In summary, MBIs seem to be effective for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders (Table 3).38-45,47,48 Because no data suggest that these interventions cause harm in patients with these conditions, they can be recommended with the understanding that additional medications or psychotherapy may be needed.
TABLE 3
Effectiveness of MBIs for Treatment of Depression and Anxiety
Evidence source Findings
Systematic review and meta-analysis38 MBIs were superior to no treatment, minimal treatment, nonspecific active con- trols, and specific active controls
Meta-analysis of 39 studies of mindfulness-based therapies for anxiety and depression39
Mindfulness-based therapies were moderately effective for improving anxiety and mood symptoms in pre-post analyses
Systematic review of mindfulness-based therapies40
Mindfulness-based therapies showed large and clinically significant effects on anxiety and depression, which were maintained at follow-up
Meta-analysis of RCTs of MBIs for current epi- sodes of anxiety or depressive disorder 41
MBIs significantly improved primary symptom severity in people with depres- sion (outcomes may be similar to those achieved with group cognitive behavior therapy); results did not support MBIs for anxiety disorder
Review of mindfulness-based meditation as self- help for anxiety and depression42
Mindfulness-based meditation may be viable approach to treatment of anxiety and depression, but more rigorous studies are needed
RCT of MBCT for relapse or recurrence of depres- sion over two years of follow-up43
MBCT seemed to work well in combination with antidepressant therapy; com- bined treatment (MBCT plus medication) may be an effective option for many people with extensive histories of recurrent depression
Meta-analysis of 18 studies of stand-alone MBIs for symptoms of anxiety and depression44
MBIs had small to medium effects on anxiety and depression compared with controls
RCT of MBCT vs. control for depression45 MBCT reduced symptoms of depression in people with traumatic brain injury, as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory II; reduction was maintained at three-month follow-up
RCT of MBSR vs. person-centered group therapy in military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder 47
MBSR group had greater improvement in self-reported severity of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms during treatment and at two-month follow-up
RCT of MBSR vs. aerobic exercise for social anxi- ety disorder 48
MBSR and aerobic exercise reduced social anxiety and depression, and increased subjective well-being immediately and at three months postintervention
MBCT = mindfulness-based cognitive therapy; MBI = mindfulness-based intervention; MBSR = mindfulness-based stress reduction; RCT = random- ized controlled trial.
Information from references 38 through 45, 47, and 48.
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This article updates a previous article on this topic by Saeed, et al.2
Data Sources: PubMed searches were completed using the key terms anxiety (specific diagnoses), depression (specific diagnoses), yoga, qi gong, tai chi, meditation, exercise, and RCT. Also searched were the Cochrane database, Medline, and Sumsearch. Search date: November 2018.
The Authors
SY ATEZAZ SAEED, MD, is professor and chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, N.C., and executive direc- tor of behavioral health service line for Vidant Health, Greenville.
KARLENE CUNNINGHAM, PhD, is clinical assis- tant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at East Carolina Univer- sity Brody School of Medicine.
RICHARD M. BLOCH, PhD, is professor emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine.
Address correspondence to Sy Atezaz Saeed, MD, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina Univer- sity, 600 Moye Blvd., Ste. 4E-100, Greenville, NC 27834 (e-mail: saeeds@ ecu.edu). Reprints are not available from the authors.
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