Aerobic capacity is associated with global functioning in people with schizophrenia

Abstract

Background: Although antipsychotic medications help manage clinical symptom severity, most people with schizophrenia continue to function poorly in the community.

Objective: To determine whether the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score is associated with aerobic capacity in people with schizophrenia.

Method: Thirty-four male (34.1 ± 12.0 years) and 16 female (33.1 ± 8.7 years) persons with schizophrenia performed the Astrand–Rhyming cycle ergometer test in order to estimate the maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max) and were assessed with the GAF, the Psychosis Evaluation tool for Common use by Caregivers and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.

Results: The mean GAF-score was 41.9 ± 9.4, while the mean estimated VO_2max was 34.5 ± 8.7mlO₂/min/kg. There was a moderate association between the GAF-score and VO_2max (r = 0.45, p < 0.001). Positive, negative and cognitive symptoms were negatively (p < 0.05) associated with the GAF-score, physical activity participation positively (p < 0.05). A backward regression analysis demonstrated that VO_2max explained 19.1% of the GAF-score variance.

Conclusion: In people with schizophrenia, the aerobic capacity is associated with a person’s global functioning. Clinicians should consider incorporating assessment of aerobic capacity into their test battery in order to measure the health consequences of schizophrenia and its treatment.

• Global assessment of functioning
• physical fitness
• psychosis

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to this study.