Does physical activity reduce the risk of psychosis? A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies

Luisa Leonie Brokmeier, Joseph Firth, Davy Vancampfort, Lee Smith, Jeroen Deenik, Simon Rosenbaum, Brendon Stubbs, Felipe Barreto Schuch

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Longitudinal prospective cohorts have suggested that physical activity (PA) may be a protective factor against psychosis and schizophrenia. However, no meta-analysis has been conducted. The study aims to examine the prospective relationship between PA and incident psychosis/schizophrenia. Major databases were searched from inception to July 2019 for prospective studies that calculated the odds ratio (OR) or the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of incident psychosis/schizophrenia in people with higher PA against people with lower PA. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted, for OR and AOR, separately. Across 4 cohorts (N = 30,025 median males = 50%, median follow-up = 32 years), people with high self-reported PA (versus low PA) were at reduced odds of developing psychosis/schizophrenia (OR = 0.73, 95%CI 0.532 to 0.995, p = 0.047). Analysis including 2 cohorts presenting AOR were not statistically significant (AOR = 0.59, 95%CI 0.253 to 1.383, p = 0.226). Overall study quality was high (mean NOS = 7.0). The literature on the topic is scarce, whilst crude analysis suggests that PA may be a protective factor against the emergence of psychosis/schizophrenia, but when adjusting for covariates, the association is no longer significant. Further studies with objective physical activity and adjustment for confounders are needed.

Original languageEnglish
Article number112675
Pages (from-to)112675
JournalPsychiatry Research
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 14 Nov 2019

Keywords

  • Longitudinal
  • Physical activity
  • Protective
  • Psychosis
  • Risk factor
  • Schizophrenia
  • incidence

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