a meta-analysis of studies did show that exercise does have a positive effect although most of the studies on this are quite small. It's extremely likely that exercise works for some people and not for others, just as medication and CBT do. Also exercise is unlikely to have strongly negative effects so it's probably worth pursuing for many patients (in combination with other therapies). Statistics are wonderful and absolutely essential for the development of drugs, but depression is completely different. It defies drugs, in fact, often the drugs are worse due to the side effects. All antidepressants did was make me fat which made me more depressed. Having suffered for years in an on-again, off-again depression, I got a dog. Long walks and runs in the country, fresh air, in all weathers and the love of a beautiful and all accepting animal. Worked for me therefore, statistics don't interest me on this one. Whatever gets you out of bed in the mornings can only be good. I know that when I've been in periods of feeling quite down, it's far too easy to stay inside, do nothing of importance, look at the dust and dirt and dishes piling up, and get more down. However, having dogs means that they MUST go out for at least one good-length daily walk; and no matter how difficult it was to get myself into a condition suitable for public consumption, once I was out with them I felt immeasurably better. I don't know if