Physical Activity for People With Behavioral Diagnoses
Condition: Severe Mental Illness
MeSH terms: Mental Disorders
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Our aims are to 1) test that our intervention that can be measured with high fidelity. 2)
      determine the feasibility of the intervention including recruitment, procedures, measures,
      intervention acceptability and resources . 3)We will also test the outcomes of this 14-week
      fitness and wellness program based at a YMCA Healthy Living Center to gauge the effects of
      exercise and activity on patients with behavioral diagnoses including bipolar disorder,
      schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. We also want to explore the influence of
      participating in such a program on the perceptions of mental illness among rehabilitation
      sciences students.
    

Detailed description: 
      Our aims are to 1) test that our intervention that can be measured with high fidelity. 2)
      determine the feasibility of the intervention including recruitment, procedures, measures,
      intervention acceptability and resources . 3)We will also test the outcomes of this 14-week
      fitness and wellness program based at a YMCA Healthy Living Center to gauge the effects of
      exercise and activity on patients with behavioral diagnoses including bipolar disorder,
      schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. We also want to explore the influence of
      participating in such a program on the perceptions of mental illness among rehabilitation
      sciences students.

      Our hypotheses are 1) that a fitness and activity program using physical activity, group
      discussion, and education delivered in a fitness facility will reduce anxiety and depression
      and strengthen hope, self-esteem, and improve overall quality of life; and 2) that student
      perceptions of mental illness will improve after participating in such a fitness and activity
      program.

      Research Questions:

      How does a program of exercise and activity influence the physical health of people with
      behavioural diagnoses as it relates to venous blood plasma measures of haemoglobin,
      cholesterol, lipids, insulin, glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins; height,
      weight, abdominal girth, blood pressure and heart rate; strength; and capacity for physical
      activity? How does a program of exercise and activity influence the psychosocial health of
      people with behavioural diagnoses as it relates to measures of hope, depression, anxiety, and
      self-esteem? How does a program of exercise and activity influence occupational performance
      and satisfaction of people with a behavioural diagnoses? How does a program of exercise and
      activity influence quality of life for people with a behavioral diagnoses ? How does
      participating in a program of exercise and activity influence the overall perceptions of
      people with behavioural diagnoses? What is the feasibility and fidelity of this 14-week
      intervention? How does being part of a program of exercise and activity for people with
      behavioural diagnoses influence perceptions of rehabilitation sciences students about mental
      illness?

      EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:

      This follow up study involves a group of up to ten past participants recruited from patients
      being treated by the OU-Tulsa IMPACT Team. We will conduct interviews and baseline measures
      to compare to past progress. This study will serve to inform future cohorts for the original
      study protocol.

      PROPOSED PROCEDURE:

      Assessments include biophysical markers of health, self-reported psychosocial measures, and
      records of exercise and activity. Specifically, we will measure:

      Cholesterol, lipids, and glucose/ A1C via blood specimens collected as a routine part of the
      patient's care Height and weight via stadiometer and digital scale, abdominal girth (the
      narrowest point between the xiphoid process and the navel) using a Gulick tape measure.

      Blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer & heart rate by counting the pulse for 60 seconds
      using a digital timer Cardiovascular endurance via the three-minute step test Depression via
      the PHQ9 scale Anxiety using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Test Interview/Focus Group
      Mental Illness Clinician Attitude Scale (MICA) This brief follow up study will assess
      participants who are one year out from the program or more. The study will take place in
      their residence and include the measures stated above and an interview. Researchers want to
      understand how the program is beneficial after one year and what can be improved to maintain
      benefits if any. Findings will be used to adjust the original protocol if needed to continue
      the original study. The assessments and interviews will be completed by researchers and
      occupational and physical therapy students under the supervision of their faculty. In
      addition, participants will be offered educational materials to help resume healthy habits.
    

Intervention name(s): IHOPE
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Integrating Healthy Habits Optimized by Community Participation and Engagled Learning
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Intervention model description: pilot study of single group pre/post design
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: exercise, healthy habits, self-management