Physical Activity Patterns in Adults With Severe Mental Illness

Abstract

Although physical inactivity is a leading cause of death and the Surgeon General recommends regular moderate physical activity, many Americans are inactive. Because of their increased burden of obesity and diabetes, people with severe mental illness (SMI) especially may benefit from physical activity, yet little is known about the prevalence and types of physical activity in people with SMI. We surveyed outpatients with schizophrenia and affective disorders at two psychiatric centers in Maryland and compared physical activity patterns to an age-gender-race-matched national sample (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III) of the general population. We found that people with SMI are overall less physically active than the general population, although the proportion with recommended physical activity levels was equal. The participants with SMI were more likely to walk as their sole form of physical activity. Within the SMI group, those without regular social contact and women had higher odds of being inactive.

Assessment of physical activity in middle-aged and older adults with schizophrenia

“…Our results are consistent with the reports of reduced PA in persons with schizophrenia or other SMPI compared to the general population (Daumit et al, 2005). The average total amount of energy expended per week by schizophrenia group as measured by the YALE in our study (3174.2, s.d.= 5072.9) was similar to the kilocalories per week reported by the CHAMPS (2710.6, s.d.= 2092.6 at time 2) (Dubbert et al, 2006) and by the 7-D PAR (3020.2, s.d.= 890.6) (Soundy et al, 2007).…”

“…Brown and colleagues (1999), found that fewer persons with schizophrenia engaged in any meaningful PA during a given week relative to persons of similar age and SES. Another study found that individuals with SPMI were less physically active compared to age-gender-race-matched individuals in the general population when assessed by self-report (Daumit et al, 2005). The reasons for reduced levels of regular physical activity in this group are multifaceted, and likely include aspects of the psychiatric disorders, side effects of medications, and lifestyle issues.…”

Selection, Use and Psychometric Properties of Physical Activity Measures to Assess Individuals with Severe Mental Illness: A Narrative Synthesis

“…19 studies utilised SRQs Archie et al, 2007Arbour, Faulkner, & Cohn, 2010;Brown, Birtwistle, Roe, & Thompson, 1999, Brown, Goetz, Van Sciver, Sullivan, & Hamera, 2006Dubbert et al, 2006;Ellingrod et al, 2011;Elmslie, Mann, Silverstone, Williams, & Romans, 2001;Faulkner et al, 2006;Lassenigus, kerlind, Wiklund-Gustin, Arman, & Söderlund, 2013;Lindamer et al, 2008;McLeod, Jaques, & Deane, 2009;Osborn, Nazareth, & King, 2007;Ratliff et al, 2012;Ussher, 2003;Ussher, Doshi, Sampuran, & West, 2011;Van Citters et al, 2010;Vancampfort, Probst, Knapen, Carraro, & De Hert, 2012. Excluded studies (with reason) 55 did not use an outcome measure that provided an assessment of the three fundamental domains of physical activity Acil, Dogan, & Dogan, 2008;Adams, 1995;Aquila, 2000;Archie, Wilson, Osborne, Hobbs, & McNiven, 2003;Ball, Coons, & Buchanan, 2001;Barton, Griffin, & Pretty, 2012;Beebe et al, 2005;Bobes et al, 2010a,b, Bobes, Arango, Garcia-Garcia, & Rejas, 2010bBrill et al, 2007;Brunero & Lamont, 2010;Buhagiar, Parsonage, & Osborn, 2011;Centorrino et al, 2006;Charmove, 1986;Chuang, Mansell, & Pattern, 2008;Crone et al, 2004;Daumit et al, 2005;Davidson et al, 1999Davidson et al, , 2001…”

Increasing US health plan coverage for exercise programming in community mental health settings for people with serious mental illness: a position statement from the Society of Behavior Medicine and the American College of Sports Medicine

“…However, these benefits often do not reach adult consumers of community mental health programs who need them most. Specifically, consumers with serious mental illness have lower fitness and physical activity levels than the general US population [3,4]. Reduction in health risks are the greatest for those who move from a sedentary to modestly active lifestyle [5].…”