25 research outputs found
Low levels of physical activity in patients with severe mental illness
No full textBACKGROUND: Physical inactivity is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and Type 2 diabetes, both being highly prevalent in patients with severe mental illness. Though physical activity has become an important issue in psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation in the past decade, systematic evaluations of physical activity level in psychiatric populations could be more disseminated.AIM: The primary aim of the study was to investigate the physical activity level of psychiatric patients in comparison with healthy controls.METHODS: Patients with severe mental illness (n =47) and a group of healthy controls (n =28) matched on sex and age reported their physical activity level using the Physical Activity Scale (PAS). PAS was administered as an interview in relation to patients and as a questionnaire in relation to healthy controls.RESULTS: Patients had statistically significant lower levels of physical activity compared with healthy controls (P <0.0001) and the level of physical activity among patients was hazardously low.CONCLUSION: The study confirmed previous studies and clinical experience that patients with severe mental illness are physically inactive and emphasize the importance of physical activity in psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation. The PAS is an applicable and relevant method for evaluating physical activity levels in psychiatric patients.</p
Clinical reasoning and clinical use of basic body awareness therapy in physiotherapy–a qualitative study?
No full textBackground: Clinical reasoning is the ability to integrate and apply different types of knowledge, weigh evidence critically and reflect upon the process to arrive at a diagnosis. Body awareness is an approach directed toward an awareness of how the body is used in terms of body function, behaviour, and interaction with self and others. Methods: In the present study, 36 physiotherapists (PTs) from 13 countries working with body awareness methods, mainly Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) in mental health were interviewed in six focus groups. Content analysis was used to analyse how the informants’ reasoned around the concept of body awareness therapy, and how they use it in their clinical work with patients. Result: Body awareness was conceived as being in contact with sensations and emotions, to be able to control symptoms, such as pain, to find a balance and to develop one’s identity by relating to oneself and others. BBAT was used as a whole body treatment, to promote balance and stability, to teach about body, movements, and coping strategies, to interact in a therapeutic approach and to be integrated with other methods and professionals. Conclusion: The present results can be used to improve the PTs clinical reasoning
Clinician perspectives of Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT)in mental health physical therapy : An international qualitative study
No full textIntroduction: Body awareness is a movement therapy used in Physical Therapy in Mental Health especially in Scandinavia. The method Basic Body Awareness Therapy has been scientifically investigated in particular for patients with Depression, Schizophrenia and Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD). Methods: Thirty-four Physical Therapists from 13 countries working with the Basic Body Awareness Therapy method in Mental Health Care were interviewed in six focus groups about what effects they have experienced in their work with patients. The Physical Therapists worked within the whole Mental Health spectra. Content analysis was used to analyze the informants’ experiences of the clinical effects of body awareness. Results: Five categories emerged: To be in contact, Refocus and coping, Sense of Self, Relations to others and Daily life activities. The results are discussed in relation to previous research, existing theories of body awareness and cognitive neuroscience and findings of experimental psychology. Conclusion: The informants experienced that Basic Body Awareness Therapy worked mainly by helping the patients to be in better contact with their “bodily self.” Stability, balance, improved grounding and the ability to relax were understood as the basis to establish an improved sense of self and leading to improved acceptance of oneself and one's ability to relate to others
Bodily symptoms in patients with post traumatic stress disorder : A comparative study of traumatized refugees, Danish war veterans, and healthy controls
No full textBackground: Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with increased general health symptoms and patients suffer from numerous bodily complaints such as increased pain, increased muscular tension, and restricted breathing. Methods and material: This study applied the Body Awareness Movement Quality and Experience scale (BAS MQ-E) in assessing and comparing bodily symptoms, including movement function, in traumatized refugees (N = 14) and Danish war veterans with PTSD (N = 19) and healthy controls (N = 20). Results: Patients with PTSD had significantly poorer stability, balance, flexibility and coordination in movement, had more muscular tension, more complaints of pain, more restricted breathing, and more limitation in function of daily life than healthy controls. Conclusion: The BAS MQ-E was found to be an applicable and useful measure of bodily symptoms in patients with PTSD. Further research may add to the validity of BAS MQ-E and might be considered in future studies evaluating the efficacy of physiotherapy for patients with PTSD
Enhanced Mental Health with Virtual Reality Mental Hygiene by a Veteran Suffering from PTSD
No full textThis paper describes the application and feasibility of the use of Virtual Reality Mental Hygiene (VRMH) as a mean to reduce anxiety and stress in a Danish veteran suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and enduring personality change after a catastrophic experience. The results from this case study provide preliminary evidence that VRMH can be used as a mean to reduce arousal in patients with severe PTSD
