Physical Fitness, Physical Activity Level, Depression and Quality of Life in Bipolar and Schizophrenia Patients

Comparison of Physical Fitness, Physical Activity Level, Depression and Quality of Life in Bipolar and Schizophrenia Patients With Healthy Controls

Assessment of physical activity levels, physical fitness and quality of life of bipolar and schizophrenia patients is necessary to verify the effectiveness of treatments and care activities in Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) and to plan new therapeutic and rehabilitative activities. In one study, they found that physical activity level-physical fitness has a positive impact on psychiatric services and can improve physical health outcomes of patients with schizophrenia. They also found an improvement in psychological and social outcomes in these patients. Therefore, physical activity level and physical fitness are stated as critical parameters of biopsychosocial approach in mental health services.

The aim of this study was to compare physical fitness, physical activity level, depression and quality of life in bipolar and schizophrenia patients with healthy individuals.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Bipolar Disorder (BD); Schizophrenia Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Survey

Detailed Description

Bipolar disorder ranks among the top 20 causes of disability among all medical conditions worldwide and 6th among mental disorders. Bipolar disorder is defined as a serious mental illness involving emotional ups and downs. It is a disorder characterized by two distinct periods of illness, manic and depressive . These two periods of illness are characterized by remission and exacerbation. The patient completely returns to normal except for the periods of illness. The mania or outburst period is when the mood is very high. Bipolar patients have a reduced life expectancy and a higher risk of developing metabolic syndromes. It is a serious mental health problem in terms of mortality, morbidity and suicide . Bipolar individuals have a higher mortality and morbidity rate than the general population. Exercise and physical activity are highly effective in preventing mortality and cardiovascular diseases and can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The International Organization of Physiotherapists recommends that individuals with mental illness should do at least 150 minutes of brisk walking or 75 minutes of physical activity per week.

Exercise is also an effective method in the treatment of mood disorders in patients with bipolar disorder. Aerobic physical exercises are also a good treatment for neurocognitive dysfunction in patients with bipolar disorder. Decreased walking capacity in hospitalized patients with bipolar disorder is due to impaired muscle conditioning, which affects daily living functions. At the same time, bipolar individuals have poorer exercise habits such as less walking and less strength exercises than healthy individuals. A qualitative study in bipolar patients also found that mood influences physical activity. Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder characterized by the occurrence of both positive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions and negative symptoms such as apathy and withdrawal, repetition of cognitive skills and disorganization. Patients with schizophrenia have been found to be less physically active and less physically fit than the general population. Exercise is a subset of physical activity that is planned, structured and repetitive bodily movements performed to increase and maintain one or more parts of physical fitness.

Therefore, physical activity level and physical fitness are stated as critical parameters of biopsychosocial approach in mental health services.

The aim of this study was to compare physical fitness, physical activity level, depression and quality of life in bipolar and schizophrenia patients with healthy individuals.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 62

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Istanbul, Turkey, 34758
    • Yeditepe University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

bipolar and schizophrenia

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• - Individuals diagnosed with bipolar and schizophrenia by a physician according to DSM-5 criteria
• Individuals with bipolar and schizophrenia between the ages of 18-64
• Patients without other concomitant psychiatric disorders
• Patients who can communicate
• Patients who agreed to participate in this study and gave informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• - Patients with a psychiatric diagnosis other than bipolar and schizophrenia. Pregnancy Not giving consent to participate in the study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Bipolar group; Bipolar disorder	Other: Survey; Survey
schizophrenia group; schizophrenia disorder	Other: Survey; Survey
healthy control group; healthy control	Other: Survey; Survey

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Beck Depression Inventory	Depression	2 weeks
Antropometric measurement	Antropometric measurement will be evaluated like weight, height, body mass index, circumferences etc.	2 week
International Physical Activity Questionnaire	To measure Physical Activity Level	2 weeks
Short form 36	Quality of life	2 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 23, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 5, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): August 12, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 22, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 22, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): August 24, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 24, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 22, 2025
• Last Verified: July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Bipolar and Related Disorders; Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Mental Disorders; Mood Disorders; Schizophrenia; Bipolar Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: IKoc

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No