title: Implementing evidence-based physical activity interventions for people with mental illness: an Australian perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Physical activity (PA) and exercise is increasingly being recognised as an efficacious component of treatment for various mental disorders. The association between PA and cardiometabolic disease is well established, as is the strong link between mental illness, sedentary behaviour and poor cardiometabolic health. Examples of successful integration of clinical PA programs within mental health treatment facilities are increasing. The aim of this review was to summarise the evidence regarding PA and mental illness, and to present examples of clinical exercise programs within Australian mental health facilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A narrative synthesis of systematic reviews and clinical trials was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Evidence supporting the inclusion of PA programs as an adjunct to treatment for various conditions was presented; including depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse. In light of the available evidence, the inclusion of clinical PA programs within mental health treatment, facilitated by dedicated clinicians (exercise physiologists / physiotherapists) was justified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PA is a feasible, effective and acceptable adjunct to usual care for a variety of mental disorders. There is a clear need for greater investment in initiatives aiming to increase PA among people experiencing mental illness, given the benefits to both mental and physical health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, and; Early Psychosis Programme, The Bondi Centre, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, and; Musculoskeletal Division, George Institute for Global Health and Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia s.rosenbaum@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Division, George Institute for Global Health and Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiedemann
authors.affiliation: School of Medical and Applied Sciences Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stanton
authors.affiliation: Orygen, the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, and; Headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation Ltd, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waterreus
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, and; Early Psychosis Programme, The Bondi Centre, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, and; Schizophrenia Research Unit, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Philip B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D001315:Australia; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: depression; exercise; mental illness; physical activity; schizophrenia