Abstract
Individuals with schizophrenia engage in more sedentary behavior than healthy controls, which is thought to contribute to multiple health adversities. Age, medication side effects and environment are critical determinants of physical activity in psychosis. While motor abnormalities are frequently observed in psychosis, their association with low physical activity has received little interest. Here, we aimed to explore the association of actigraphy as an objective measure of physical activity with clinician assessed hypokinetic movement disorders such as parkinsonism and catatonia. Furthermore, we studied whether patients with current catatonia would differ on motor rating scales and actigraphy from patients without catatonia. In 52 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, we cross-sectionally assessed physical activity using wrist actigraphy and ratings of catatonia, parkinsonism, and negative syndrome. The sample was enriched with subjects with severe psychomotor slowing. Lower activity levels correlated with increased age and severity of catatonia and parkinsonism. The 22 patients with catatonia had lower activity as well as higher scores on parkinsonism, involuntary movements, and negative symptoms compared to the 30 patients without catatonia. Collectively, these results suggest that various hypokinetic motor abnormalities are linked to lower physical activity. Therefore, future research should determine the direction of the associations between hypokinetic motor abnormalities and physical activity using longitudinal assessments and interventional trials.
Highlights
Cardio metabolic health is a major issue in schizophrenia spectrum disorders
The activity levels were on average 14′470 counts/h (SD = 8′136), which is in line with previous reports and much lower than in healthy controls, e.g. mean = 21′511, SD = 7′580, n = 46 in (Walther et al, 2017)
Lower activity levels in patients correlated with higher Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) negative scores, but not with PANSS positive, general or total scores
Summary
Cardio metabolic health is a major issue in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are associated with lower life expectancy of 15–20 years, which may be partially accounted for the impact of these disorders on health behaviors (Hjorthoj et al, 2017; Kurdyak et al, 2021; Nielsen et al, 2021). A variety of spontaneous and drug induced motor abnormalities are frequently observed in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (Walther and Mittal, 2017; Walther et al, 2020). Both hyperkinetic movement dis orders, such as abnormal involuntary movements, akathisia or dystonia, and hypokinetic movement disorders, e.g. Parkinsonism (with brady kinesia), or catatonia may occur at all stages of the disorder ranging from those at risk to those with chronic courses (Peralta and Cuesta, 2010, 2017; Walther and Mittal, 2017; Walther and Strik, 2012; Walther et al, 2020). Psychomotor slowing remains a special symptom, as it may occur either independently or concurrently with classic hypokinetic motor abnormalities or the negative syndrome domain of apathy (Mittal et al, 2021a)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
