Multimodal Physical Therapy Program in Schizophrenia

It´s well known that life expectancy of people with severe mental disorders is approximately from 15 to 20 years less compared with general population. The higher mortality risk in this population group reflects a combination of factors: a) increased prevalence of comorbid medical conditions; b) adverse effects of pharmacological treatment; c) higher rates of suicide, accidental and other violent death; d) poorer access to physical healthcare than for the general population. In addition, this vulnerable population has an extremely high prevalence of obesity, nearly twice that of the overall population. Therefore, it is not surprising that persons with serious mental illness have an increased occurrence of weight-related conditions, including heightened risk of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia; in addiction to this, these pathologies are under-diagnosed and under-treated. Environmental issues and unhealthy lifestyle can account for all these conditions, particularly in people with SMI, such as high levels of cigarette smoking, unhealthy diet or sedentary life style. Tendency to isolation and a reduced social network are often obstacles to the practice of physical exercise.

In addition, antipsychotics, in particular atypical antipsychotics, have been associated with weight gain, dyslipidaemia, diabetes, and other cardiac risk factors. Furthermore, the side effects of these medications are one of the most significant barriers to changing their lifestyle.

Finally, the stigma associated with mental illness may also contribute to low levels of participation in mainstream leisure-time physical activities.

Regular practise of physical exercise improves physical and mental health in the general population. A recent systematic review of physical activity and schizophrenia has shown improvement in both positive and negative symptoms, and a general increase in wellbeing of people with schizophrenia. In addition to cardiac and metabolic effects, physical exercise has demonstrated an improvement in both depression and anxiety.

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a multimodal physical activity programme in physical fitness and physical activity level in persons with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Secondary objectives are: Evaluate the effect of this intervention in clinical symptomatology; Analyse the effect of this programme in motivating these persons to undertake physical activity; Identify the effect of the program on the physical fitness of the subjects; Evaluate any influence of the program on the self-perception of stigma in the subjects; Evaluate any variation of level of physical activity before and after the study in the subjects; Measure the impact on the quality of life of people who participate in this study; Perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of the program.

The present study is a randomized clinical trial to compare the effect of a multimodal, individualized, physical programme of muscular strength, endurance, aerobic training and health education against a control group.

All variables will be measured at the beginning and the end of the 12-week program by the same evaluator, whose group of subjects will be randomly allocated to the trial group and control group without their knowledge. Furthermore, the variables will be measured 9 months after the end of the program. Subjects allocated to the control group will have all the same variables measured, and will be given the option to participate in the program once the study is completed.

Inclusion criteria

• Persons with diagnosis of schizophrenia
• Have agreed to agreeing to participate in the study
• Have signed the informed consent
• Be able to complete scales and perform physical tests

Exclusion criteria

• Have a contraindication for performing physical intervention.
• Destabilization of the symptoms
• Be participating in a program of structured physical activity