A recent study conducted by researchers at Deakin University’s Food and Mood Centre suggests that lifestyle therapy, incorporating nutritional counseling and physical activity, is equally beneficial as traditional psychotherapy in reducing non-severe depression.
The study, which is considered a world-first in its approach, aimed to address the shortage of mental health professionals by exploring the effectiveness of training dieticians and exercise physiologists to deliver mental health interventions. The research involved 182 participants with mild to moderate depression who were randomly assigned to either receive lifestyle therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Notably, the sessions were conducted online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Participants in the lifestyle therapy group received guidance from both a dietitian and an exercise physiologist on increasing daily physical activity and adhering to a modified Mediterranean diet. They were also equipped with Fitbits to monitor their health progress. In contrast, the CBT group received therapy from psychologists, focusing on managing negative thoughts and behaviors through structured sessions and self-help materials.
According to Prof Adrienne O’Neil, the lead author of the study, both therapies were comparable in terms of session frequency, duration, and group size, with the primary difference being the disciplinary backgrounds of the therapists and the content of the sessions.
After eight weeks of therapy, participants in the lifestyle therapy group reported a 42% reduction in depressive symptoms, slightly higher than the 37% reduction observed in the CBT group. Furthermore, a cost analysis indicated that the lifestyle program was marginally more cost-effective due to the lower hourly rates of dieticians and exercise physiologists compared to psychologists.
The study also highlighted the significance of nutrition therapy integrated with exercise, which, according to O’Neil, challenges the traditional perception of lifestyle modifications as mere adjuncts in mental health care. She emphasized that these interventions should be central to effective psychiatric care, similar to their role in managing conditions like cardiology and diabetes.
Scarlett Smout, a research associate at the University of Sydney’s Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, praised the study’s innovative approach but cautioned that further research with larger and more diverse samples is needed to validate the findings outside pandemic conditions. She stressed that while lifestyle changes can be beneficial, they should complement rather than replace professional mental health care.
Overall, the findings suggest a promising role for allied health professionals in delivering mental health interventions, offering a potential solution to the current strains on mental health services. The study underscores the importance of integrating lifestyle modifications into standard mental health care practices, paving the way for more inclusive and accessible treatment options.
As research continues, the next steps involve exploring whether similar interventions can effectively support individuals with more severe mental health conditions, potentially reshaping the landscape of mental health care delivery in the future.
