Impact of antipsychotic medication on physical activity and physical fitness in adolescents: An exploratory study.
Antipsychotics are used increasingly in adolescents for a range of psychiatric disorders. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether physical activity levels and physical fitness of adolescent inpatients treated with antipsychotic medication, differs from either (i) antipsychotic naïve adolescents with mental health problems and, (ii) healthy controls. All participants completed the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents, the Positive-and-Negative-Affect-Schedule and performed the Eurofit test battery. Adolescents with mental health problems (irrespective of antipsychotic medication) were significantly (P<0.05) less physically active and had an impaired whole body balance, running speed and cardiovascular endurance compared to healthy controls (n=15, 8♂, 15.9±1.3 years). Adolescents treated with antipsychotic medication (n=15, 8♂, 15.5±1.3 years) were less physically active and had an impaired whole body balance compared with antipsychotic naïve adolescents (n=15, 8♂, 15.7±1.4 years). Given the overwhelming deleterious impact of physical inactivity and low physical fitness on physical and mental health outcomes, interventions specifically targeting physical activity and physical fitness among adolescents experiencing mental illness, both treated with, and not treated with antipsychotic medication are warranted as a priority. Antipsychotic medication should be considered as a risk factor for physical inactivity and poor physical fitness.
KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven - University of Leuven, University Psychiatric Center KU Leuven, Leuven-Kortenberg, Belgium. Electronic address: Davy.Vancampfort@uc-kortenberg.be.
Davy
D
Vancampfort
KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven - University of Leuven, University Psychiatric Center KU Leuven, Leuven-Kortenberg, Belgium.
Michel
M
Probst
KU Leuven - University of Leuven, University Psychiatric Center KU Leuven, Leuven-Kortenberg, Belgium.
Anne
A
Daenen
KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Leuven, Belgium.
Tine Van
TV
Damme
KU Leuven - University of Leuven, University Psychiatric Center KU Leuven, Leuven-Kortenberg, Belgium.
Marc
M
De Hert
Department of Exercise Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Simon
S
Rosenbaum
KU Leuven - University of Leuven, University Psychiatric Center KU Leuven, Leuven-Kortenberg, Belgium.
David
D
Bruyninckx
D000293:Adolescent; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents
Adolescents; Antipsychotics; Exercise; Physical activity; Physical fitness