Effects of Physical Exercise Therapy on the Wellbeing and Functioning of Youth in a Secure Inpatient Mental Health Service: A Two Years Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

The positive effect of physical activity (PA) on mental health has been widely documented, and interventions which increase physical activity levels have shown profound benefits in inpatient and outpatient populations. Despite the robust evidence base, participation in a tailored physical exercise programme is not prescribed as standard for Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS). Furthermore, individuals with mental health conditions continue to experience significant physical health inequalities compared with the general population, and admission to psychiatric hospitals is considered to exacerbate these inequalities. The present study, conducted at an inpatient CYPMHS Low Secure Unit, collected 84 responses from service users who engaged in physical exercise sessions over a period 28 months. The Subjective Exercise Experience Scale, was completed pre and post-exercise therapy sessions, assessing three categories of subjective responses to exercise stimuli: positive wellbeing, psychological distress and fatigue. The results demonstrated an increase in self-reported positive wellbeing, and a decrease in self-reported levels of psychological distress and in fatigue immediately after exercise, compared with immediately prior to engaging with physical exercise. The wider impact was an improvement in the young people’s general functioning and increased levels of overall engagement with their care and treatment plans. Understanding why this positive clinical response occurred, and the neuroscience behind it, is crucial for developing targeted physical activity interventions that improve holistic wellbeing and encourage engagement in treatment plans. Our recommendation is to conduct further studies to explore the duration of these positive effects and within a larger sample size.