Psychosis Associated With Low Levels of Physical Activity

Rebecca Lewis September 07, 2016

A large-scale international study involving 200,000 people worldwide has found that people with psychosis tend to have low levels of physical activity compared to those who don’t have the mental illness.

The study, led by the researchers from King’s College London and the South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust, also provides insights as to the barriers that prevent people with psychosis from engaging in physical activities. It also lays down the framework that would help experts come up with interventions that promote the physical and mental health of these individuals.

For the study, the researchers collected data from the World Health Survey. The data involved more than 200,000 people aged 18-64 from nearly 50 low-and-middle-income countries. These individuals, who were living in their local communities at the time of the study, were divided into three groups: people with a diagnosis of psychosis, those with psychotic symptoms but no diagnosis and a control group (of people with no diagnosis of psychosis and no symptoms in the past 12 months). The participants were interviewed to ascertain who had/had not met recommended levels of physical activity.

Results showed that people with psychosis are 36 per cent more likely to not meet the recommended amount of physical activity. Among the male subjects, those with psychosis were two times more likely not to meet the recommended levels compared to people in the control sample.

What could be the possible reasons why these people don’t engage in physical exercise that much? The findings revealed that potential barriers to physical activity include mobility problems, depression, cognitive impairment, and pain issues.

The researchers note that people with psychosis tend to die 15 years earlier than the general population. And one common cause is cardiovascular disease. The new findings will be used to guide the ’Walk this Way’ study at King’s College London, funded and led by the NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) South London.

The World Health Organisation recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the week, including walking, cycling, household chores or sport, to individuals age 18 to 64. According to the organisation, physical inactivity is the fourth leading cause of avoidable death and is as harmful as smoking.

The study was published in the Schizophrenia Bulletin.

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