Sprint Interval Training for Adolescents with Serious Mental Illness
29 February 2016 Last updated:
8 April 2016
Sprint Interval Training for Adolescents with Serious Mental Illness
Summary
A 10-week sprint interval training exercise program was implemented at Concord Centre for Mental Health (CCMH), to provide adolescent inpatients in the Walker Unit with a structured form of physical activity.
Aim
To improve the psychological symptoms and health indicators of adolescent inpatients at the CCMH .
Benefits
- Improves the physical and psychological wellbeing of young people with serious mental illness.
- Reduces the risk of obesity-related conditions, such as such as high blood pressure, Type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
- Improves clinical practice by addressing the physical needs of inpatients, alongside psychological treatments.
Background
In people with serious mental illness, side-effects from medication such as antipsychotics and antidepressants can include severe weight gain. Prior to the projects, sedentary behaviour was observed in inpatients at CCMH , which can increase the risk of obesity-related conditions, such as high blood pressure, Type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The combination of a sedentary lifestyle and weight gain increases the risk of metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of obesity-related health issues. While mental health facilities do not regularly incorporate structured exercise programs as treatment options, research suggests that it can benefit the patient and improve overall wellbeing. As a result, a study was undertaken to measure these benefits on sedentary inpatients at CCMH .
Implementation
- Psychiatric patients in the Walker Unit at CCMH were selected to participate in this project. They were aged 12-18 and each had an identified serious mental illness with a history of unsuccessful exposure to hospital treatments.
- Consent to participate in the project was provided by patients, parents and carers, clinical psychologists and medical staff.
- Each participant completed a 10-week sprint interval training program of one session, three times a week.
- The exercise program comprised a high-intensity interval training approach using a cycle ergometer.
- A two-week baseline period was completed, followed by an eight week sprint interval training intervention.
Project status
Implementation - the initiative is ready for implementation or is currently being implemented, piloted or tested.
Project dates
August 2015 – December 2015
Implementation site
The Walker Unit, Concord Centre for Mental Health, SLHD
Partnership
- University of Sydney
Results
- Multiple, repeated measures were taken at baseline, mid-way and post-intervention time points. These measurements included:
- Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)
- WHO-5 Well-Being Index
- psychological incident type
- psychological diagnosis
- body mass index (BMI)
- waist to hip ratio
- percentage body fat
- resting heart rate
- resting blood pressure
- bloods
- maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max).
- Preliminary results indicated positive short-term changes to health and wellbeing measurements, including weight and VO2 max.
- A full evaluation of post-intervention results has taken place and is awaiting publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Lessons learnt
It was imperative to find a solution that was time, cost and resource efficient.
Further reading
- McCloughen A, Foster K, Huws-Thomas M et al. Physical health and wellbeing of emerging and young adults with mental illness: an integrative review of international literature. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing 2012; 21(3): 274-288.
- Nabkasorn C, Miyai N, Sootmongkol A et al. Effects of physical exercise on depression, neuroendocrine stress hormones and physiological fitness in adolescent females with depressive symptoms. European Journal of Public Health 2005; 16(2): 179-184.
- Stanton S, Rosenbaum S, Kalucy M et al. A call to action: exercise as treatment for patients with mental illness. Australian Journal of Primary Health 2015; 21(2): 120-125.
Contact
Caitlin Taylor
Postgraduate Fellow
The University of Sydney
Phone: 0416 333 117
caitlin.taylor@sydney.edu.au
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