Table 1 Comparative effect sizes of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for depression.

Antidepressants

 − 0.3²⁰

Currently available to prevent relapse and recurrence of depression

In long-term antidepressant treatment, antidepressants can be administered by non-psychiatric physicians without specialized training ²¹

Adverse effects, higher cost, social stigma ²², gastrointestinal symptoms, sexual disfunction, weight gain, sleep disturbances, require high compliance²¹, low remission rate, and high recurrence rate²³

CBT

 − 0.75²⁴

Cost-effective, superior relapse prevention²⁵

Time-consuming, costly and not easily accessible in some countries, may not be effective for all individuals²⁵

Exercise

Walking and jogging²²: − 0.62

Yoga²²: − 0.55

Tai chi or Qi Gong²²: − 0.42

Strength training²²: − 0.49

Mixed aerobic exercise²²: − 0.43

Fewer adverse effects than antidepressant treatment, easy to perform, low cost, no stigma²³

High drop-out rate than antidepressant treatment²²