Interventions to motivate a healthier lifestyle in psychiatry outpatients

Outpatients in psychiatry can have difficulties with poor lifestyle behaviours, such as poor diet, physical inactivity, insufficient sleep, smoking and substance abuse. This contributes to both poorer physical and mental health. A common method to encourage healthier behaviours among psychiatric outpatients in Sweden is motivational interview but it is not known how efficient it is, or if there are other methods that can help this group of patients.

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SBU Enquiry Service

Consists of structured literature searches to highlight studies that can address questions received by the SBU Enquiry Service from Swedish healthcare or social service providers. We assess the risk of bias in systematic reviews and when needed also quality and transferability of results in health economic studies. Relevant references are compiled by an SBU staff member, in consultation with an external expert when needed.

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Published: Report no: ut202024 Registration no: SBU 2020/353

Question

What systematic reviews are there on motivational lifestyle interventions for psychiatric outpatients?

Identified literature

One partly relevant systematic review was identified and assessed for risk of bias.

Table 1. Systematic reviews with low/medium risk of bias

Included studies Population/Intervention Outcome
Young et al, 2018 [1]
7 randomised controlled trials
(RCTs) with active control conditions		 Clinically depressed population aged >18 years. The primary aim of this review was to identify and evaluate the existing evidence for the efficacy or effectiveness of online lifestyle interventions. Effect: Altering alcohol intake, physical activity, sleeping habits, substance abuse, smoking and/or dietary behaviours. A secondary aim was to identify the impact of these interventions on symptoms of depression.

Adverse effect: -
Authors' conclusion:
“The results of this review highlight the potential of online lifestyle interventions as adjunctive treatments for depression, and the possibility of achieving significant improvements in depressive symptoms when targeting lifestyle behaviour change.”

References

  1. Young CL, Trapani K, Dawson S, O'Neil A, Kay-Lambkin F, Berk M, et al. Efficacy of online lifestyle interventions targeting lifestyle behaviour change in depressed populations: A systematic review. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2018;52:834-46.
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