Investigate the Effect of Strength and Endurance Training on the Severity of Depression and Patients' Working Memory Capacity

Background and Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of strength and endurance training on the severity of depression and patients' working memory capacity. Materials and Methods: For this purpose, out of 100 depressed people referred to psychological clinics in which depression was diagnosed, 30 people who had a score of 20 or higher on the depression scale were available and selected Equally and randomly, they were divided into three groups: strength, endurance and non-training. Result: Findings of the present study showed that a period of strength and aerobic exercise has a positive effect on reducing the depression and improving the working memory capacity of depressed patients. There was a significant difference between the resistance and aerobic exercise groups and the control group in terms of the effect on the severity of depression (p=0.001). Also, there was a significant difference between the groups of resistance and aerobic in terms of reducing the severity of depression in favor of the aerobic group (p = 0.003). It seems that resistance and aerobic training have a significant positive effect on improving the working memory capacity of depressed patients. which are universally applicable in the community and do not require huge costs, is effective in changing and improving the psychological problems of patients with depression. Conclusion: Therefore, based on the findings of the present study, it is suggested that psychologists, psychotherapists and sports psychologists pay attention to the role of sports activities as an independent treatment in the treatment of patients with depression.