A lifestyle intervention for older schizophrenia patients with diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
We tested the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a lifestyle intervention for middle-aged and older patients with schizophrenia and type-2 diabetes mellitus, using a randomized pre-test, post-test control group design.


METHODS
Individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder over the age of 40 were randomly assigned to 24-week Diabetes Awareness and Rehabilitation Training (DART; n=32) groups or Usual Care plus Information (UCI; n=32) comparison groups. Participants were recruited from board-and-care facilities and day treatment programs. Fifty-seven patients completed baseline and 6-month assessments consisting of an interview, measures of body mass index, blood pressure, fasting blood chemistry, and accelerometry. A mixed-model analysis of variance was used to analyze the data.


RESULTS
A significant group x time interaction was found for body weight, with patients in the DART group losing a mean of 5 lb and those in the UCI gaining a mean 6 lb. Significant group x time interactions were also found for triglycerides, diabetes knowledge, diabetes self-efficacy, and self-reported physical activity, but not for fasting plasma glucose or glycosylated hemoglobin.


CONCLUSIONS
Group-based lifestyle interventions are feasible and produce positive health changes in middle-aged and older patients with schizophrenia and diabetes mellitus.
McKibbin
Christine L
CL
University of California, San Diego, CA, USA. cmckibbin@ucsd.edu
Patterson
Thomas L
TL
Norman
Gregory
G
Patrick
Kevin
K
Jin
Hua
H
Roesch
Scott
S
Mudaliar
Sunder
S
Barrio
Concepcion
C
O'Hanlon
Kathleen
K
Griver
Kay
K
Sirkin
A'verria
A
Jeste
Dilip V
DV
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003710:Demography; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D015444:Exercise; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*
D001786:Blood Glucose