Supporting Physical Activity through Co-production in people with Severe Mental Illness (SPACES): a pragmatic randomised controlled trial of a bespoke intervention to increase levels of physical activity in people with SMI compared to usual care
Increase in physical activity in people with severe mental illness
Control and intervention groups: Both groups will receive usual care. Intervention group only: The intervention comprises of two core components, weekly group-based sessions and one-to-one sessions with the physical activity coordinator. All participants allocated to the intervention, will be offered up to 18 weekly group-based sessions and up to 10 one-to-one sessions delivered by a trained physical activity coordinator. The weekly group-based session will be up to two hours in length and include three components (up to 60 minutes of physical activity, a 30-minute themed discussion and 30 minutes of social time). The physical activity component will be made up of either an outdoor walk, an indoor circuit style activity graded to the needs of the participants (e.g., resistance exercises, balance exercises, cardiovascular exercises) or a community taster session (e.g., walking football, yoga). The themed discussions will involve informal information giving/sharing, which will cover relevant topics (e.g., getting started/keeping going with physical activity, benefits of increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour, overcoming barriers/hurdles to doing physical activity, being active in everyday life, staying motivated, keeping energised, exploring local indoor and outdoor activities). Time for informal socialising will make up the final portion of the weekly group-based session. The session will be delivered in a suitable NHS or community venue and run weekly for 18 weeks. Randomisation Allocation will be through block randomisation (with random permuted blocks of various integer multiple of two size) with a separate schedule for each combination of centre and diagnosis. There will be no additional stratification factors, beside centre, and diagnosis (Schizophrenia (F20 and subcodes) vs. Schizoaffective disorder (F25 and subcodes) vs. Other psychotic and delusional disorders (not of known organic origin) (F21 – F24 and F26 – F29 and subcodes) vs.
1. Aged 18 years or older 2. ICD-10 or DSM-V diagnosis of SMI as documented in GP or psychiatric notes (schizophrenia (F20 and subcodes); schizoaffective disorder (F25 and subcodes); other psychotic and delusional disorders (not of organic origin) (F21-F24 and F26-F29 and subcodes); bipolar and manic episodes (F30 and F31 and subcodes)). 3. Are able to walk unaided 4. Willing to wear an accelerometer
1. People who lack capacity to participate 2. Primary diagnosis of drug or alcohol abuse 3. Medical contraindication of physical activity as ascertained by GP or mental health team 4. Already physically active, defined as >300 minutes/week of self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) 5. Non-English speakers 6. People who took part in the feasibility study