Organized Aerobic Exercise and Depression in Male County Jail Inmates

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Abstract
Depression in inmates of correctional facilities is well-documented. However, the efficacy of any specific, non-pharmacologic intervention for depression in this population was not located in the literature. This study examined the influence of an exercise program on depression in male county jail inmates. Twenty-five subjects from one jail received three hours of organized aerobic exercise weekly for 12 weeks; 20 inmates from another facility constituted the control group. Both groups completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) twice, with a 12-week interval between tests. Decreased BDI scores for the treatment group suggest that organized aerobic exercise could be an effective primary or adjunct intervention for depression in this population.