Lower cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with more time spent sedentary in first episode psychosis: A pilot study.
Patients with a psychotic disorder show lower cardiorespiratory fitness and higher mortality rates compared to healthy individuals. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore whether in patients with first-episode psychosis a low cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with decreased physical activity and increased sedentary levels. Twenty-nine outpatients (21 men; 22.8±5.1 years) performed a maximal exercise test to assess their maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), wore a Senswear armband for five consecutive days and were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Twenty-four patients (82.8%) scored below the normative cardiorespiratory values. The percent-predicted VO2max ranged from 47% to 109%. In a backward regression analysis, less time spent sedentary (min/day) was the only independent predictor of a higher VO2max. The model explained 28.0% of the variance in the VO2max-score. The current study indicates that future research should explore whether reducing sedentary behaviour (e.g. time spent napping or prolonged sitting during waking hours) might improve cardio-respiratory fitness levels. Interventions targeting recreational screen time (watching television, computer use, playing video games, etc.) or replacing passive to more active video games should be investigated.
KU Leuven Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Leuven, Belgium; UPC KU Leuven, Kortenberg-Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: davy.vancampfort@kuleuven.be.
Davy
D
Vancampfort
UPC KU Leuven, Kortenberg-Leuven, Belgium.
Marc
M
De Hert
KU Leuven Department of Neurosciences, Centre for Contextual Psychiatry, Leuven, Belgium.
Inez
I
Myin-Germeys
UPC KU Leuven, Kortenberg-Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven Department of Neurosciences, Centre for Contextual Psychiatry, Leuven, Belgium.
Ruud
R
van Winkel
Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Joseph
J
Firth
KU Leuven Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Leuven, Belgium; UPC KU Leuven, Kortenberg-Leuven, Belgium.
Tine
T
Van Damme
KU Leuven Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Leuven, Belgium; UPC KU Leuven, Kortenberg-Leuven, Belgium.
Michel
M
Probst
D000328:Adult; D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011998:Recreation / Q000523:psychology; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
Exercise; Fitness; Physical activity; Psychosis; Sedentary behaviour