'Mind and body' : a lifestyle programme for people on antipsychotic medication

<b>Rationale</b> Psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and their treatments have consequences in terms of lifestyle, diet and weight.<br /><b><br />Aims and objectives </b>‘Mind and Body’ is a 10-week programme of weekly sessions aimed to improve the health status of people treated with second generation antipsychotic medications.<br /><br /><b>Methods</b> The programme focuses on a range of lifestyle strategies including diet and exercise and was conducted at a Community Health Centre by professionally qualified staff. Between 2002 and 2006, 50 participants enrolled in, and 30 completed the programme. Measures of body weight, health status (Short Form-36) and blood markets (plasma glucose, haemoglobin A1c and lipid profile) were collected at commencement and completion of the programme.<br /><br /><b>Results </b>A modest improvement was demonstrated in mean values for the majority of measures collected.<br /><br /><b>Conclusions</b> A lifestyle program for people treated with antipsychotic medications is achievable and may be worthwhile although gains may be modest.<br />