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'Mind and Body': a lifestyle programme for people on antipsychotic medication
Amanda Jones1, Anthony Benson, Sarah Griffith
1Barwon Health, Community and Mental Health, Torquay, Victoria, Australia. amandajo@barwonhealth.org.au
Rationale:
Psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and their treatments have consequences in terms of lifestyle, diet and weight.
Aims And Objectives:
'Mind and Body' is a 10-week programme of weekly sessions aimed to improve the health status of people treated with second generation antipsychotic medications.
Methods:
The programme focuses on a range of lifestyle strategies including diet and exercise and was conducted at a Community Health Centre by professionally qualified staff. Between 2002 and 2006, 50 participants enrolled in, and 30 completed the programme. Measures of body weight, health status (Short Form-36) and blood markets (plasma glucose, haemoglobin A1c and lipid profile) were collected at commencement and completion of the programme. Results A modest improvement was demonstrated in mean values for the majority of measures collected.
Conclusions:
A lifestyle program for people treated with antipsychotic medications is achievable and may be worthwhile although gains may be modest.
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