Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour in Outpatients with Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aims: To identify, appraise and synthesise evidence on the level of physical inactivity or activity and its moderators in outpatients with schizophrenia. Method: A systematic search strategy was undertaken and included eight electronic databases. Searches were undertaken using a subject and text-word search strategy between the dates from each databases' inception to September 2012. Two independent reviewers determined study eligibility. Data extraction detailed the level and time spent in physical activity. Results: One hundred and sixty three records were screened, and 12 studies (n=628) met the inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis identified higher levels of sedentary activity (N=2; n=140; z=44.1; P<0.001) and low categories of physical activity (N=2; n=140; z=147,306; P<0.001), and lower levels of moderate (N=3; n=300; z=-5.1; P<0.001) and vigorous (n=3; n=220; z=-3.2; P=0.001) physical activity categories when comparing patients with schizophrenia to healthy age- and gender-matched controls. Meta-regression found no significant association between moderate and vigorous physical activity with age (P=0.08; P=0.14 respectively) and gender (P=0.08; P=0.14 respectively) as the moderators. Conclusion: The current study is the first to provide meta-analytic evidence for the sedentary behaviour and lack of physical activity in outpatients with schizophrenia.