The Effects of Aerobic Exercise Program on BMI, Mood States, Psychiatric Symptoms in Male Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia / 정신간호학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an aerobic exercise program on body mass index, mood state, and psychiatric symptoms in men with chronic schizophrenia. METHODS: Non-equivalent control group pretest and posttest design was used. The participants were men with chronic schizophrenia hospitalized in N mental hospital located in N city (29 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group). The program was provided 3 times a week for 8 weeks, 24 sessions each lasting 45~60 minutes. Effects of this program were evaluated using BMI, K-POMS-B, PANSS. The data were analyzed using percentage, chi2-test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, paired t-test, t-test, and ANCOVA with SPSS 12.0 version. RESULTS: After the aerobic exercise program, statistically significant decreases in BMI, depression, fatigue score of the K-POMS, and psychiatric symptoms were found for the experimental group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that aerobic exercise programs are an effective psychiatric nursing intervention to decrease BMI, general psychiatric symptoms and fatigue, and also to improve mood states. Therefore aerobic exercise program are suggested as a potential approach for reducing re-hospitalization and facilitating social readjustment for patients with schizophrenia.