| dc.description.abstract | Summary
Background: Patients with schizophrenia have reduced physical work capacity and impaired performance in functional outcomes, but the degree to which these characteristics are related is unknown. The purpose was to describe physical work capacity and functional capacity, and investigate associations between physical work capacity and functional capacity and everyday functioning in schizophrenia, both in the overall sample and by gender.
Methods: 25 outpatients (16 men, 9 women), 35.5±9.4 years participated. Physical work capacity was peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and One Repetition Maximum relative to body mass (1RM/BM). Functional outcomes were 6-minute walk test (6MWT), stair test, 30-second sit-to-stand test (30sSTS), University of California San Diego Performance-based Skills Assessment (UPSA-B), Specific Level of Functioning (SLOF) and the SF-36® Health Survey (SF-36).
Results: Men had higher VO2peak (p=0.013), 1RM/BM (p=0.009) and 6MWT performance (p=0.006) than women. VO2peak correlated strongly with 6MWT (r=0.82, p=0.000), stair test (r=-0.64, p=0.001) and moderately with 30sSTS (r=0.48, p=0.017). 1RM/BM correlated moderately with the 6MWT (r=0.48, p=0.017), stair test (r=- 0.48, p=0.015) and strongly with 30sSTS (r=0.54, p=0.005). VO2peak revealed a strong correlation with UPSA-B total score (r=0.71, p=0.003) and SLOF total score (r=0.59, p=0.022) in men, but not women.
Discussion and conclusion: Better physical work capacity is associated with better performance in 6MWT, stair test and 30sSTS in individuals with schizophrenia. Reduced VO2peak is associated with reduced functional capacity and everyday functioning in men. Future intervention studies should investigate whether physical work capacity could improve functional capacity. Physical training should be emphasized in recovery-oriented mental health services.
Keywords: schizophrenia, 1RM, VO2peak, recovery, quality of life | nb_NO |
