Physical activity in persons with severe mental illness: research-based clinical recommendations

Recent data show alarming reduction of life-expectancy in patients with severe mental illness; due to these findings strategies to reduce cardiovascular and behavioural risk factors are needed. Integrating physical activity programs into psychiatric services can improve physical health outcomes of patients with serious mental illness and may produce improvements in psychological and social outcomes. Thus, recovery-oriented treatment strategies may benefit from a biopsychosocial approach and a case management concept including concepts derived from psychiatry and health psychology.