Physical activity can reduce hopelessness among women admitted to psychiatric short stay unit following a suicide crisis

Abstract

BackgroundIn a growing number of countries, brief hospitalizations in psychiatric short stay units (SSUs) are proposed to patients in acute mental health crisis (typically suicide crisis). AimsThis pilot study's purpose was to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and plausible efficacy of two days of 30 min of brisk-walking/jogging compared to 30 min of sedentary activities in suicidal inpatients from a French psychiatric SSU. MethodsTwelve female adults completed the study. Participants in the brisk-walking/jogging group (n = 6) received two exercise sessions of 30 min separated by a time interval of 24 h. Participants in the control group (n = 6) did not receive the exercise intervention, but were asked to engage in sedentary activities of similar duration at the same time of the day. Measures of hopelessness and optimism/pessimism were administered at the intake and final assessments. In addition, other performance indicators were explored and provide the readers with information about the feasibility and acceptability of intervention. ResultsFindings showed strong feasibility and acceptability (no serious adverse event, adherence and retention rates around 75%–80%, and high patients satisfaction ratings). Significant differences between groups favoring women who exercised were oberved in the score change of hopelessness (Hedges's g = −1.29, 95% CI [-2.65, −0.08]). ConclusionThe present study provides preliminary evidence for the plausible adjunctive efficacy of physical activity to alleviate the psychological distress suffered by suicidal patients in a psychiatric SSU.