EPA guidance on physical activity as a treatment for severe mental illness: a meta-review of the evidence and Position Statement from the European Psychiatric Association (EPA), supported by the International Organization of Physical Therapists in Mental Health (IOPTMH)

Publication date: October 2018Source: European Psychiatry, Volume 54Author(s): Brendon Stubbs, Davy Vancampfort, Mats Hallgren, Joseph Firth, Nicola Veronese, Marco Solmi, Serge Brand, Joachim Cordes, Berend Malchow, Markus Gerber, Andrea Schmitt, Christoph U. Correll, Marc De Hert, Fiona Gaughran, Frank Schneider, Florence Kinnafick, Peter Falkai, Hans-Jürgen Möller, Kai G. KahlAbstractPhysical activity (PA) may be therapeutic for people with severe mental illness (SMI) who generally have low PA and experience numerous life style-related medical complications. We conducted a meta-review of PA interventions and their impact on health outcomes for people with SMI, including schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder. We searched major electronic databases until January 2018 for systematic reviews with/without meta-analysis that investigated PA for any SMI. We rated the quality of studies with the AMSTAR tool, grading the quality of evidence, and identifying gaps, future research needs and clinical practice recommendations. For MDD, consistent evidence indicated that PA can improve depressive symptoms versus control conditions, with effects comparable to those of antidepressants and psychotherapy. PA can also improve cardiorespiratory fitness and quality of life in people with MDD, although the impact on physical health outcomes was limited. There were no differences in adverse events versus control conditions. For MDD, larger effec...
Source: European Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research