Fitforlife- mentordirven physical exercise in psychosis

The Fitforlife study educate persons affected by psychosis to be physical exercise trainers that leads group training of fellow patients.

This is an entirely new approach and has been surprisingly well appreciated at all levels; patients, relatives, staff and head of units. The study is ongoing in 3 regions, we have 8 open care units that have finished and 8 finishing in spring 2023. This despite big problems due to pandemic restrictions with 2 long breaks.

We have educated >30 mentor trainers. We had to say no to units that wanted to participate.

All the units that finished wants to continue with the concept, it have worked equally well in Rinkeby as in Lund.Fitforlife has two purposes; increase function (metabolic, social and cognitive) and increase patient participation by increasing self confidence. Psychosis increase the risk for metabolic disorders, due to side effects of drugs as well as negative lifestyle habits.

Among the symptoms cognitive dysfunction is devastating and affects functioning. Social isolation is common and stigma is a huge problem. Psychosis often start in young adulthood and the burden to relatives is high.

Traditionally patient involvement in care of psychosis is low.We now want to do a description how to start and run the concept. We also want to make the mentor trainer education available for everybody. It is already digital (thanks to the pandemia). The plan is that is going to be located at the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences(GIH).

To make this possible we need to make a digital education for those who are needed to support during the education, currently this is only available IRL.

This education is short, target group is persons already educated within physical exercise.We want to do this in parallel with the scientific evaluation of the study since we have seen that the concept is positive for all involved.

The goal is to make Fitforlife available for free for all units that want to start and that it can be a complement to physical activity on prescription and physiotherapy.

We have seen positive effects on subjective and objective need of care and cognition in the prestudy and no negative effects have been reported.

In the research group we have patient organizations, mentor trainers from the prestudy, secretary in Swedich association for psychiatrists, regional leaders of psychiatry, researchers from KI and GIH and responsible person from national care program of psychosis in Sweden.