Body-Mind-Spirit Intervention for Women With Early Psychosis

Body-Mind-Spirit Intervention for Women With Early Psychosis: a Randomized Controlled Trial

This is an open-labelled randomised controlled trial (RCT) that aims to examine the effectiveness of exercise coaching approach in improving the physical activity engagement in patients with psychosis.

Patients with psychosis will be recruited from the out-patient department (OPD) of the Kwai Chung Hospital (KCH). The patient with informed consent will be randomly assigned to exercise coaching or psychoeducation group to prevent decline in cognitive and functional outcomes known to be common in this group. This comprises locally-tested evidence-based intervention strategies such as exercise and Yoga intervention, combined with exercise coaching to consolidate the exercise habit. Each of the intervention includes 28 sessions spanning for16-week.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female
• Age from 18-64
• Based on the Fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnosis to have schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders
• Have the ability to understand Chinese
• Able to give informed consent
• Physically fit for participating in our study assessed by using the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe physical illness (Myocardial Infarction, Hypertension, Fracture, Spinal problems in which exercise may be contraindicated), and seizure disorders.
• Comorbid substance dependence
• Unstable psychotic symptoms
• Any history of brain trauma or organic brain disease
• Known history of intellectual disability or special school attendance
• Other mental conditions that requires other treatment priorities, e.g., suicidal risk.
• Other medical conditions that severely limits participation, comprehension, or adherence to the treatment or assessment e.g., epilepsy, dementia, terminal medical illness.