This is the first study that explored the self-reported dietary habits of acute psychiatric inpatients. We found that 75% of the psychiatric inpatients have an unhealthy diet, which correlates with higher body mass index (BMI) and lower education level. We also found an increased sugar consumption in inpatients with schizophrenia.The link between nutrition and mental health has been explored to a limited extent owing to the cumbersome nature of conducting research that involves specific dietary intervention and follow up. Yet, there is existing literature linking poor diet with impaired mental health and poor recovery from depression, amongst other disorders. Good nutrition can be exemplified with diets like the Mediterranean diet with a focus on certain food groups that provide the nutrients linked to neurotransmitters and a fairly new concept of the gut-brain axis.A Mediterranean-style dietary intervention supplemented with fish oil improves diet quality and mental health in people with depression. A randomised controlled trial published in the nutritional neuroscience journal yielded a positive outcome and improvement in the overall well-being of the patients enrolled.We explored the dietary habits of acute inpatients. After gathering a detailed diet history, their food habits were compared to a Mediterranean dietary index to assess their dietary patterns. Additionally, variables such as socio-economic characteristics, physical activity, income, BMI, and educational achievement were taken into consideration, with the intention to understand the effect of these factors on a diet consumed by acute patients and the relationship of the diet with their mental wellbeing.Ultimately, this study aims at an important aspect of preventive mental health, i.e., improved dietary habits (e.g., Mediterranean diet) may contribute to more rapid symptoms resolution and acute stabilization on a short-stay inpatient unit.

BackgroundPoor diet quality has been found to be prevalent in people with mental illness [71] and even contribute to mental illness [71]. The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the relationship between diet quality, mental health problems, socioeconomic variables, physical activity level, and body mass index amongst acute psychiatric inpatients.MethodThe study sample were 100 adult inpatients. Tools administered were Eating Habit Questionnaires (Dana Farber Institute) and the KIDMed index to assess food compliance in accordance with a Mediterranean diet. The Index marks all individuals as either having an “unhealthy score” or “healthy score”. The study utilized a descriptive correlation research design.ResultsThe results showed that 75% of the patients displayed an unhealthy score as per the KIDMed index. The findings displayed an inverse relationship of BMI and the KIDMed score. There was a significant positive correlation between the level of education and the KIDMed score. There is a positive correlation towards increased consumption of sugar in schizophrenic patients. There was no statistical significance between age, gender, income and physical activity with regards to the KIDMed score.Conclusionpsychiatric inpatients display unhealthy eating habits which is likely both an effect of and a contributing factor to the various mental illnesses. Prospective interventional randomized controlled studies are necessary for clarification of cause-effect relationships.

Background: Poor diet quality has been found to be prevalent in people with mental illness [71] and even contribute to mental illness [71]. The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the relationship between diet quality, mental health problems, socioeconomic variables, physical activity level, and body mass index amongst acute psychiatric inpatients.Method: The study sample were 100 adult inpatients. Tools administered were Eating Habit Questionnaires (Dana Farber Institute) and the KIDMed index to assess food compliance in accordance with a Mediterranean diet. The Index marks all individuals as either having an “unhealthy score” or “healthy score”. The study utilized a descriptive correlation research design.Results: The results showed that 75% of the patients displayed an unhealthy score as per the KIDMed index. The findings displayed an inverse relationship of BMI and the KIDMed score. There was a significant positive correlation between the level of education and the KIDMed score. There is a positive correlation towards increased consumption of sugar in schizophrenic patients. There was no statistical significance between age, gender, income and physical activity with regards to the KIDMed score.Conclusion: Psychiatric inpatients display unhealthy eating habits which is likely both an effect of and a contributing factor to the various mental illnesses. Prospective interventional randomized controlled studies are necessary for clarification of cause-effect relationships.

Background: Poor diet quality has been found to be prevalent in people with mental illness [71] and even contribute to mental illness [71]. The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the relationship between diet quality, mental health problems, socioeconomic variables, physical activity level, and body mass index amongst acute psychiatric inpatients.Method: The study sample were 100 adult inpatients. Tools administered were Eating Habit Questionnaires (Dana Farber Institute) and the KIDMed index to assess food compliance in accordance with a Mediterranean diet. The Index marks all individuals as either having an “unhealthy score” or “healthy score”. The study utilized a descriptive correlation research design.Results: The results showed that 75% of the patients displayed an unhealthy score as per the KIDMed index. The findings displayed an inverse relationship of BMI and the KIDMed score. There was a significant positive correlation between the level of education and the KIDMed score. There is a positive correlation towards increased consumption of sugar in schizophrenic patients. There was no statistical significance between age, gender, income and physical activity with regards to the KIDMed score.Conclusion: psychiatric inpatients display unhealthy eating habits which is likely both an effect of and a contributing factor to the various mental illnesses. Prospective interventional randomized controlled studies are necessary for clarification of cause-effect relationships.

BackgroundPoor diet quality has been found to be prevalent in people with mental illness [71] and even contribute to mental illness [71]. The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the relationship between diet quality, mental health problems, socioeconomic variables, physical activity level, and body mass index amongst acute psychiatric inpatients.MethodThe study sample were 100 adult inpatients. Tools administered were Eating Habit Questionnaires (Dana Farber Institute) and the KIDMed index to assess food compliance in accordance with a Mediterranean diet. The Index marks all individuals as either having an “unhealthy score” or “healthy score”. The study utilized a descriptive correlation research design.ResultsThe results showed that 75% of the patients displayed an unhealthy score as per the KIDMed index. The findings displayed an inverse relationship of BMI and the KIDMed score. There was a significant positive correlation between the level of education and the KIDMed score. There is a positive correlation towards increased consumption of sugar in schizophrenic patients. There was no statistical significance between age, gender, income and physical activity with regards to the KIDMed score.ConclusionPsychiatric inpatients display unhealthy eating habits which is likely both an effect of and a contributing factor to the various mental illnesses. Prospective interventional randomized controlled studies are necessary for clarification of cause-effect relationships.