What we found out
A unique exercise programme which has been proven to help women living with depression has been devised by
researchers from The University of Nottingham.
The programme is a result of a two year research study in the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Physiotherapy. Its
mission has been to help women who are living with depression, characterised by low levels of physical activity,
increasing health and weight problems, low self‐esteem and a lack of motivation. Previous research by the team
had found that standard GP‐prescribed exercise, usually gym sessions, don’t work well for this group as they find
them discouraging and lonely, with many dropping out very early on. The team’s aim was to come up with a new
type of exercise programme which would ensure that women are supported and motivated for the duration of the treatment.
The key to the new programme is ‘mentored’ exercise, which includes group motivational support and a low
effort walking plan. Women attended sessions at their local authority leisure centre three times a week for four
weeks. In each session the women received a half hour motivational coaching session conducted by a health
psychologist, in a small friendly group, followed by an individually tailored exercise session on the treadmill in the
gym, supervised by a sports therapist. The women exercised alongside each other, and additional
emotional/social support was available to them for the duration of their session, though this was slowly
decreased as confidence and the support from peers within the group increased.
Around 40 women with depression in the Nottingham area participated in the research. The new scheme was
tested by comparing two groups of women; the first receiving the special programme, and the latter receiving‘exercise as usual’ of the type prescribed by a GP. Women on the special programme experienced a significant
improvement in their mood, physical health, sense of wellbeing, self-esteem and quality of life. They felt they had
achieved these gains via a positive, comfortable and unintimidating experience which encouraged regular and
continued attendance.
One volunteer said: “I feel more confident in my physical self and my emotional self. I do think it has helped with
my mood.”
In contrast, women who received an ‘exercise as usual’ programme experienced no significant benefits, were less
likely to continue attending, and were markedly less enthusiastic. Lead investigator Professor Callaghan said: “Exercise tailored to preferred exertion levels, combined with effective support from others, is a prescription
designed to improve depressed women’s overall health and well being.”
The women who participated in this study are those commonly seen in GP surgeries up and down the country.
The team intend to make GPs and PCTs aware of the benefits of adding this to the range of services they make
available to women living with depression through a process of educational outreach meetings in the coming
months. The programme is manualised, meaning it could easily be delivered by mainstream gym staff and
community mental health workers.
The research was conducted by Elizabeth Khalil, Patrick Callaghan and Ioannis Morres at the School of Nursing,
Midwifery and Physiotherapy. It was funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing, and adopted by the Mental Health
Research Network, part of the National Institute for Health Research.
More information is available from Elizabeth Khalil on +44 (0)115 823 0873, Elizabeth.khalil@nottingham.ac.uk
Or the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Physiotherapy website, http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/nmp/research/mental-health/index.php
