Search

Objective: To assess whether physically active yoga is superior to waitlist control, treatment as usual and attention control in alleviating depressive symptoms in people with a diagnosed mental disorder recognised by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.Data Sources: Data were obtained from online databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychINFO, CENTRAL, EMCARE, PEDro). The search and collection of eligible studies was conducted up to 14 May 2019 (PROSPERO registration No CRD42018090441).Eligibility Criteria For Selecting Studies: We included randomised controlled trials with a yoga intervention comprising ≥50% physical activity in adults with a recognised diagnosed mental disorder according to DSM-3, 4 or 5.Results: 19 studies were included in the review (1080 participants) and 13 studies were included in the meta-analysis (632 participants). Disorders of depression, post-traumatic stress, schizophrenia, anxiety, alcohol dependence and bipolar were included. Yoga showed greater reductions in depressive symptoms than waitlist, treatment as usual and attention control (standardised mean difference=0.41; 95% CI -0.65 to -0.17; p<0.001). Greater reductions in depressive symptoms were associated with higher frequency of yoga sessions per week (β=-0.44, p<0.01). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physical activity (PA) significantly improves physical health and clinical symptoms across mental disorders. Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEPs) are trained to lead PA interventions for people with mental illness, but referrals to AEPs are low. Aims: To determine the knowledge and attitudes of delegates attending the 2017 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) conference toward physical health monitoring and exercise interventions for people with mental illness. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of RANZCP delegates investigated knowledge and attitudes toward PA for people with mental illness, self-reported PA, and their understanding of AEP's role within mental health settings. A subgroup of delegates underwent fitness assessments. Results: Seventy-three delegates completed surveys and 24 underwent fitness assessments. Delegates demonstrated good knowledge regarding associations between PA and cardiovascular disease risk. Delegates were less knowledgeable of AEP's role within mental health settings. Forty-six participants (63%) did not meet the Australian recommended guidelines for PA. No association between referrals to AEPs and self-reported PA or fitness measures were evident. Conclusions: Promoting PA participation for mental health professionals, coupled with education on the important role AEPs play in the multidisciplinary treatment of mental health consumers is vital to improve health outcomes for this vulnerable group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Youth with at‐risk mental states (ARMS) have low levels of physical activity (PA), reduced fitness levels and experience poor sleep quality. These lifestyle factors exacerbate mental health symptoms and increase cardiometabolic disease risk. PA interventions can help prevent this decline in physical health whilst reducing mental health symptom severity. Whether PA interventions are feasible and acceptable amongst youth with ARMS is unclear. Methods: This study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of headspace Active, a pragmatic PA program offered to 14 to 25 year olds with ARMS. The 12‐week exercise physiologist‐led intervention was conducted in adjunct to usual care. Feasibility was determined by number of referrals, attendance, engagement in exercise sessions and dropout from the intervention. Acceptability was assessed by a 10‐item questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included anthropometry, cardiorespiratory fitness and strength. Subjective PA levels, symptoms of depression and anxiety, sleep, motivation and quality of life were also assessed. Results: Within 12 months, 77% of referrals completed the 12‐week intervention (n = 20), with six dropouts. Of the 20 "completers", 95% attended at least five sessions over the 12‐week intervention. Participants found the program highly acceptable (mean = 41.2/50 on the 10‐item acceptability questionnaire) and experienced significant improvements in PA, strength, motivation, depressive symptoms and sleep quality post‐intervention. No changes in anthropometry were observed. Conclusion: Results suggest headspace Active was feasible and acceptable and was associated with improvements in physical and mental health outcomes among ARMS youth. Given the potential scalability of this real‐world PA program to other youth mental health settings, these data have implications for best practice implementation of PA interventions for individuals with emerging mental illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scandal of premature mortality in people with serious mental illness is well established. Despite an increase in studies evaluating the efficacy of lifestyle interventions, translating this evidence into routine clinical care and policies is challenging, in part due to limited effectiveness or implementation research. We highlight the challenge of implementation that is increasingly recognized in clinical practice, advocate for adopting implementation science to study the implementation and systematic update of effective interventions in practice and policy, and provide directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]