Effects of Exercise in People with Severe Mental Illness and Recommendations for its Implementation as Add-on Therapy

Abstract

There are many reasons for people with (and without) severe mental illness to exercise regularly. In people with schizophrenia, major depression and bipolar disorder, it has already been shown that regular physical activity as an add-on therapy can improve quality of life and symptom severity. This is particularly important in domains that standard therapy is currently not able to treat sufficiently, such as cognitive deficits. Postulated underlying neurobiological effects include increased volume in hippocampal areas as demonstrated by data of a current clinical trial in people with schizophrenia.

Keywords

• exercise
• physical activity
• schizophrenia
• bipolar disorder
• major depression