Physical Training for Persons with Mental Illness

While suffering from a small sample size and high drop out rate, a study published in the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal suggests physical training programs may produce positive effects for persons with serious mental illnesses. Participants in the study did lose weight and showed improvement on other physiological measures(although the findings were not statistically significant). Participants did report that the program contributed to their perceived sense of well-being.

The full citation for the study is: Skrinar, G. S., Huxley, N. A., Hutchinson, D. S., Menninger, E., & Glew, P. (2005). The role of a fitness intervention on people with serious psychiatric disabilities. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 29(2), 122-127.