Clinician perspectives and practices regarding the use of exercise in the treatment of adolescent depression.

Initial evidence suggests that exercise is an effective method in reducing symptoms of depression amongst adolescents. It is important to examine clinician attitudes and practices regarding the incorporation of exercise in mental health treatment, and to examine potential facilitators and barriers to exercise prescription. An online survey was conducted amongst mental health clinicians (N = 125) working in the treatment of adolescent depression. Clinicians held favourable attitudes towards exercise, most frequently ranking exercise as the second most important treatment for adolescent depression following cognitive behaviour therapy. The majority of clinicians were found to prescribe exercise "always" (24.3%) or "most of the time" (43.4%). Significant positive relationships were found between confidence to prescribe exercise and knowledge surrounding exercise prescription and clinician exercise prescription rates, however no significant relationship was identified between clinician levels of exercise and exercise prescription. The most frequently endorsed barriers to exercise prescription included the belief that exercise prescription should be implemented by an exercise professional, a lack of knowledge surrounding exercise prescription for adolescent depression, and the belief that depressed adolescents will not adhere to an exercise program. Overall, clinicians held positive attitudes towards exercise in the treatment of adolescent depression, and often recommended exercise as part of treatment.

Should we recommend exercise to adolescents with depressive symptoms? A meta-analysis.

There is growing interest in the potential role of exercise in the reduction of depressive symptoms. The aim of this meta-analysis was to examine whether exercise reduces depressive symptoms amongst depressed adolescents. The following databases were searched on 30 January 2015: MEDLINE, PsychINFO, SPORTDiscuss and PUBMED. Studies were included if they examined exercise interventions amongst adolescents with clinical levels of depressive symptoms, were published in peer-reviewed journals in the English language and contained a control/comparison group. Of 6631 retrieved studies, eight studies were included in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random effects model due to the high level of heterogeneity identified amongst studies ( I 2 = 65.1, P < .005). The analysis revealed a moderate reduction in depressive symptoms post-intervention (Hedge's g = -0.61, P = .007). This analysis provides preliminary evidence that exercise is effective in reducing symptoms of depression among adolescents with clinical levels of depressive symptoms. The present meta-analysis, however, is limited by the generally low quality of included studies, high level of between-study heterogeneity and restriction of inclusion criteria to published studies. Further high-quality trials with depressed adolescents are needed to determine the efficacy of exercise in the reduction of depressive symptoms and the exercise parameters associated with the antidepressant effects of exercise.

The relationship between portrayals of nonsuicidal self-injury, attitudes, knowledge, and behavior.

BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) among young people has prompted research into why this may be a chosen coping strategy. One possibility is that the behavior is modeled from media depictions. AIMS: The study examined the relationship between viewing films featuring NSSI and an individuals' knowledge, attitudes toward, and engagement in NSSI. METHOD: 317 individuals (18-30 years) completed an online survey measuring these key variables. RESULTS: Exposure to NSSI in film was related to history of NSSI; an even stronger relationship emerged when individuals identified with the character. Films increase knowledge and empathy toward those engaging NSSI, but they may also serve to trigger NSSI. CONCLUSIONS: Portrayal of NSSI in film could be designed to minimize imitation and to consider the potential to increase knowledge of NSSI among those with little exposure to the behavior. However, because films may also trigger NSSI, further work is needed to determine under what circumstances, and for which individuals, films exert a protective or harmful effect.