Virtual Group Fitness and Nutrition Intervention for Individuals With Psychosis

Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Virtual Group Fitness and Nutrition Intervention in Individuals With Psychosis: A Pilot Study

Individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) often face unique barriers that limit the development of long-lasting lifestyle changes. In this study, The investigators will investigate the feasibility and impact of a novel lifestyle intervention in individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. The intervention will be composed of group fitness instruction and educational nutrition didactics that will be accessible to participants at-home through remote streaming. The fitness component will consist of weekly group fitness sessions delivered by a certified personal trainer over a virtual interface. The educational nutritional component of this intervention will involve interactive didactic sessions designed to improve knowledge of nutrition and positively change dietary behavior in this population.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Receiving outpatient psychiatric care for early-episode psychosis, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder at Boston Medical Center or the Mass General Hospital
• Proficient in English
• Cleared by their primary care provider to perform 30 minutes of aerobic and strength exercise

Exclusion Criteria:

• Documented history of one of the absolute contraindications to exercise defined in the "Exercise Standards for Testing and Training" by the American Heart Association in our electronic medical record which includes the following:

  1. Acute myocardial infarction
  2. Ongoing unstable angina
  3. Uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia with hemodynamic compromise
  4. Endocarditis
  5. Symptomatic severe aortic stenosis
  6. Decompensated heart failure
  7. Acute pulmonary embolism, pulmonary infarction, or deep vein thrombosis
  8. Acute myocarditis or pericarditis
  9. Acute aortic dissection

• Inability to ambulate independently