Low Physical Activity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in People With Schizophrenia: A Comparison With Matched Healthy Controls and Associations With Mental and Physical Health

Thomas W Scheewe; Frederike Jörg; Tim Takken; Jeroen Deenik; Davy Vancampfort; Frank J G Backx; Wiepke Cahn

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00087

Low Physical Activity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in People With Schizophrenia: A Comparison With Matched Healthy Controls and Associations With Mental and Physical Health

Front Psychiatry. 2019 Feb 28:10:87. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00087. eCollection 2019.

Authors

Thomas W Scheewe^{1

2}, Frederike Jörg^{3

4}, Tim Takken⁵, Jeroen Deenik⁶, Davy Vancampfort^{7

8}, Frank J G Backx⁹, Wiepke Cahn¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Rudolf Magnus Institute for Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.
² Department of Human Movement and Education, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Zwolle, Netherlands.
³ Rob Giel Research Center, University Center of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
⁴ Research Department, GGZ Friesland (Friesland Mental Health Services), Leeuwarden, Netherlands.
⁵ Child Development and Exercise Center, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.
⁶ GGz Centraal, Amersfoort, Netherlands.
⁷ University Psychiatric Center KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
⁸ Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
⁹ Department of Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy Science and Sports, Rudolf Magnus Institute for Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to objectively assess time spent in physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) in patients with schizophrenia compared to healthy controls matched for age, gender and socioeconomic status. Associations between both PA and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and mental and physical health parameters in patients with schizophrenia were examined. Materials and Methods: Moderate and vigorous PA (MVPA), moderate PA, vigorous PA, total and active energy expenditure (TEE and AEE), number of steps, lying down and sleeping time was assessed with SenseWear Pro-2 body monitoring system for three 24-h bouts in patients with schizophrenia (n = 63) and matched healthy controls (n = 55). Severity of symptoms (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and Montgomery and Åsberg Depression Rating Scale), CRF (peak oxygen uptake, VO_2peak), body mass index (BMI), and metabolic syndrome were assessed. Results: Patients with schizophrenia performed less MVPA and moderate activity had lower TEE and AEE, spent more time per day lying down and sleeping, and had poorer CRF compared to healthy controls. The amount of MVPA, but especially CRF was associated with severity of negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Only CRF was associated with BMI. Discussion: The current data offer further evidence for interventions aiming to increase physical activity and decrease sedentary behavior. Given strong associations of CRF with both negative symptoms and BMI, treatment aimed at CRF-improvement may prove to be effective.

Keywords: cardiorespiratory fitness; matched healthy controls; physical activity; schizophrenia; sedentary behavior.