Impact of Exercise Groups on Patient Mental Health and Wellbeing in an Acute Psychiatric Inpatient Unit

Launched by JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · May 4, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Growing evidence suggests that physical activity is associated with increased cognitive functioning and improved mental health. A recent meta-analysis demonstrated an inverse, dose-response association between physical activity and depression, particularly at lower activity volumes. Similarly, exercise has been shown to be associated with decreased anxiety, improved sleep, and reduced cognitive deficits in outpatient settings.

Despite the beneficial impacts of regular physical activity on mental health, physical activity is often low in psychiatric inpatient settings. Common barriers to ex...

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Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Psychiatric inpatients admitted to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Acute Psychiatric Unit (APU)
• • Aged 18 years or older
• • Able to give informed consent and understand the tasks involved
• • In the opinion of the unit attending, the patient is sufficiently psychologically or medically stable to safely participate in the exercise intervention
• • Patients using mobility devices such as canes, walkers, and wheelchairs are eligible for inclusion as exercises can be completed in modifiable positions as needed.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patients who do not speak English as their primary language.
• • Patients with a history of physical or neurological conditions that interfere with study procedures.
• • Patients demonstrating behavior that would be a safety concern if placed in a group at the discretion of occupational therapy, the medical team, or the nursing team.
• • A patient can be excluded if in the opinion of the treatment team on the unit, participation in the study would have a negative impact on the patient's mental health or treatment plan.