The functional exercise capacity is correlated with global functioning in patients with schizophrenia

The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is commonly used to measure the functional exercise capacity in chronic patients with cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the 6MWT is associated with the global assessment of functioning (GAF) score in patients with schizophrenia.

A total of 68 male and 25 female in-patients with schizophrenia (34.6 ± 9.7 years; body mass index = 24.9 ± 4.4) performed a 6MWT and were assessed with the GAF scale and the Psychosis Evaluation tool for Common use by Caregivers (PECC).

The mean distance walked on the 6MWT was 587.3 ± 98.4 m, while the mean GAF score was 52.0 ± 10.4. The Pearson's correlation coefficient between the 6MWT and the GAF score was 0.59 (P < 0.001), indicating a moderate association between both measures. The 6MWT was also significantly related to negative (r = -0.45, P < 0.001), depressive (r = -0.48, P < 0.001) and cognitive (r=, P) symptoms and with body mass index (r = -0.31, P < 0.005), smoking behaviour (r = -0.36, P < 0.001)) and dose of antipsychotic medication (r = -0.38, P < 0.001).

Next to the GAF scale, clinicians in in-patient settings should consider incorporating the 6MWT into their test battery to measure the functional consequences of schizophrenia and its treatment.