Specific studies support the use of exercise
as a treatment for depression. Exercise compares favorably to antidepressant
medications as a first-line treatment for mild to moderate depression and
has also been shown to improve depressive symptoms when used as an
adjunct to medications. While not as extensively studied, exercise has been
shown to be an effective and cost-efficient treatment alternative for a variety
of anxiety disorders. While effective, exercise has not been shown to reduce
anxiety to the level achieved by psychopharmaceuticals.