To increase physical activity in sedentary patients with affective - or schizophrenia spectrum disorders - a clinical study of adjuvant physical therapy in mental health.

Purpose: To understand if physical therapy in addition to individualized psychiatric specialist treatment could aid sedentary patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders or affective spectrum disorders to become more physically active and also to identify assessments suitable for measuring physical activity, physical function and movement motivation.Materials and methods: In a longitudinal, clinical study 18 sedentary patients that filled inclusion criteria were consecutively included. The patients were diagnosed with affective disorders (n = 10) or schizophrenia spectrum disorders (n = 8).Results: Fifteen patients fulfilled the 6-month treatment. The affective group significantly improved physical activity, walking capacity, physical function, exercise habits and attitudes. The schizophrenia spectrum group significantly improved the attitudes to the body and movements but did not increase their physical activity. Instruments to study physical activity, physical function and movement motivation were identified.Conclusion: The study revealed that physical therapy in addition to individualized psychiatric specialist treatment might be an aid for the patients to become more physically active. Patients with affective disorders reached recommended levels of moderate physical activity according to World Health Organization guidelines. Sedentary patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders revealed positive attitude-changes, but no behavioral change.

A psychometric study of the multidimensional fatigue inventory to assess fatigue in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Fatigue is frequently reported by patients with mental illness. The multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20) is a self-assessment instrument with 20 items including five dimensions of fatigue. The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest reliability, internal consistency, convergent construct validity and feasibility of using MFI-20 in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Patients completed two self-assessment instruments, MFI-20 (n = 93) and Visual Analogue Scale (n = 79), twice within 1 week ± 2 days. Fifty-three patients also rated the feasibility of responding to the MFI-20 with a Likert scale. The test-retest reliability and validity were analysed by using Spearman's correlations and internal consistency by calculating Cronbach's α. The test-retest showed a correlation between .66 and .91 for all subscales of MFI. The internal consistency was .92. The analysis of convergent construct validity showed a correlation of .68 (time 1) and .77 (time 2). No item was systematically identified as being difficult to answer.

Internet-of-Things (IoT) in healthcare and social services - experiences of a sensor system for notifications of deviant behaviours in the home from the users' perspective.

Studies on use of IT in residential care are limited; thus, there is a need for investigations to understand both older people's and nursing staff's perspectives on experiences of new technology. 'Smart homes' provide home automation solutions, making life easier for those residing there. The aim was to explore, from the users' perspective, experiences of a sensor system installed in the home. The sensors are meant to provide notifications of deviations in behaviours or routines by the resident, requiring healthcare staff or relatives to do a supervisory visit. The sensor notification system made the users feel secure by being monitored, having control over the situation, and allowing them to become more independent in their daily lives; furthermore, they emphasised the importance of having well-functioning systems. Further development of the technology and use, in co-creation with the users, is needed. Careful preparation in installing/starting the system and repeated information about its aim are needed.

[Physical activity has an acute effect on depression and anxiety syndromes]. / Fysisk aktivitet kan ha omedelbar effekt på depression och ångest.

Physical activity has a preventive and an acute effect on both depression and anxiety syndromes. The effect of just physical activity, usually 3 times/week for 8-12 weeks, is equal to treatment with psychotherapy or antidepressants for mild to moderate depression, according to several meta-analyses. Addition of physical exercise to psychotherapy has a significantly greater effect than psychotherapy alone. Few high-quality studies on anxiety syndromes have been performed regarding the treatment effect of physical activity. In anxiety syndromes, physical activity for 10-12 weeks has a better effect than no treatment. Yet, psychotherapy or pharmacological treatment has a better effect than physical exercise in panic disorder. The article describes a variety of positive physiological, neurobiological and psychological mechanisms of physical activity.

Assessing movement quality in persons with severe mental illness - Reliability and validity of the Body Awareness Scale Movement Quality and Experience.

Motor disturbances and disturbed self-recognition are common features that affect mobility in persons with schizophrenia spectrum disorder and bipolar disorder. Physiotherapists in Scandinavia assess and treat movement difficulties in persons with severe mental illness. The Body Awareness Scale Movement Quality and Experience (BAS MQ-E) is a new and shortened version of the commonly used Body Awareness Scale-Health (BAS-H). The purpose of this study was to investigate the inter-rater reliability and the concurrent validity of BAS MQ-E in persons with severe mental illness. The concurrent validity was examined by investigating the relationships between neurological soft signs, alexithymia, fatigue, anxiety, and mastery. Sixty-two persons with severe mental illness participated in the study. The results showed a satisfactory inter-rater reliability (n = 53) and a concurrent validity (n = 62) with neurological soft signs, especially cognitive and perceptual based signs. There was also a concurrent validity linked to physical fatigue and aspects of alexithymia. The scores of BAS MQ-E were in general higher for persons with schizophrenia compared to persons with other diagnoses within the schizophrenia spectrum disorders and bipolar disorder. The clinical implications are presented in the discussion.

The physiotherapists' experience of Basic Body Awareness Therapy in patients with schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

BACKGROUND: Scandinavian physiotherapists (PT) treat patients with schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorder, mainly because of the latter's bodily difficulties. One commonly used method is Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT), targeting the difficulties with sensory motor dysfunction and disembodiment. The aim of the study is to describe the physiotherapist's experiences of using BBAT for patients with Schizophrenia. METHOD: In a qualitative study, eight physiotherapists, who use BBAT when treating patients with schizophrenia were interviewed. The interview transcriptions were analysed according to content analysis. RESULTS: Three stage related themes were created: "encountering" "discovery towards embodiment", and "inner space towards outer world". In "encountering" the PTs described important aspects at the beginning of treatment. "Discovery towards embodiment" revealed how the PTs conceived that the patients' attention is directed toward their own body and their bodily experiences. The theme, "inner space towards outer world" reflects the PTs experience of the changes achieved and how patients turn their attention to the outside world as a more competent self.

The experiences of basic body awareness therapy in patients with schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) is a physiotherapeutic treatment method that is commonly used in Scandinavian mental health services. However, for patients with schizophrenia, there are few studies that verify the effectiveness of BBAT, or explain which dysfunctions or disabilities BBAT has an effect on in this group of patients. The aim of the present study was thus to describe patients' experiences of BBAT, focusing on perceived main treatment effects. The areas of perceived effects are to be investigated in future research. METHOD: In a qualitative study, eight patients with schizophrenia were interviewed. The interview transcriptions were analysed with content analysis methodology. RESULT: Patients with schizophrenia report positive treatment effects of physiotherapy with BBAT. Four main categories were identified: affect regulation, body awareness and self-esteem, effects described in a social context and effects on the ability to think. These should be targeted in a future randomized and controlled study.