Healthy lifestyle choices in people with severe mental illness
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A qualitative study exploring barriers and facilitators to making healthy lifestyle choices : perspectives of people with severe mental illness
IRAS ID
239916
Contact name
Dipen Patel
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
R&D Dept, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 2 months, 15 days
Research summary
People with serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression are known to have a significantly reduced life expectancy in comparison to the general population. This is mainly due to co-morbid physical health illness, particularly cardiovascular disease. Mortality from coronary heart disease is approximately 3 times greater in people with serious mental illness.
Lifestyle choice regarding physical activity, exercise, sedentary behaviour and high calorie diet are key risk factors for obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. However, research qualitatively exploring these behaviours in individuals with chronic psychiatric illness remains limited.
This study aims to qualitatively explore the perspectives of people with severe mental illness on their understanding of healthy lifestyle choices and the impact of an unhealthy lifestyle on physical health outcomes, and the potential facilitators and barriers to engaging in a healthy lifestyle for a sustained period of time.
REC name
London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/2147
Date of REC Opinion
22 Dec 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion