I agree, Graham, exercise is a great antidote to depression.

Haven't seen any literature on it, but it probably helps with ADD too. ADD and depression are linked and the two conditions share many common characteristics. Most adults who suffer from one condition also experience at least some symptoms of the other. Not sure whether this holds for children as well, but my feeling is it certainly would once they hit adolescence.

Bronwyn,
I thought you were advocating "alternative" traetments.I obviously over interpreted your words...SORRY
While logically and ( Scientific testing, sparse though it is) there are some limited values to these (or any treatments).
I wasn't meaning to attack rather adding the missing qualifications.
(My attacks are far less subtle and reserved for far more blatant sprays with antisocial intent.)
BTW I find yours and Foxy's usual comments worth the read. Hence my disquiet with this one. Again sorry

Graham,
There is some evidence from sports medicine research literature that exercise realeases endorphins into the brain which may help (albeit temporarily) some minor depression in some people....a minor high.
However, in psychotic depression and Bipolar etc it doesn't do enough to interupt the depression. Good point though

examinator

Thanks for your kind words and gracious apology. Much appreciated.

May we long continue to cross paths on OLO!

Hyperactivity and attention deficiency and neither medical nor pharmaceutical problems. Ignore anyone in a surgery or pharmacy who thinks they are. They're talking through the back of their neck.

Anyone who loves football, tennis, swimming and playing the drums, who gets stuffed full of junk food and junk drink, and spends most of their day cooped up in a cage doing maths, physics and chemistry runs the risk of becoming hyperactive and driving their jailers to distraction.

The solution will always be to let children run free and roam wide on bellies full of good food.

Graham "when the people who stand to make money out of a practice criticise it....".

You seem to have isolated an heretofore unknown ethical bone in the body of this science who have thus far merely drugged, molested, zapped or shredded their clientele back to normalcy.

The Harry Bailley Deep Sh!t Award for you, complete with black box presentation packaging.

Bronwyn and Graham

I think you're on the right track.

I believe depression and ADHD are intimately related. They come from the same stable.

When adults are coooped up in cages, fed flour and sugar and deprived of sunlight and omega 3 fats they become depressed. When kids are cooped up in cages, deprived of omega 3 fats and fed flour, sugar and food additives they become hyperactive.

The medical solution? Drug them!