Exercise via Videoconferencing for People with Severe Mental Illness during COVID-19 Times: A Feasibility Study

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has serious negative consequences for the health status of people with severe mental illness (SMI). In this non-randomized controlled prospective patient preference study (N = 40), we investigated the feasibility of exercise via live videoconferencing for people with SMI, and preliminary effects on symptom severity and quality of life. We found that group exercise via videoconferencing is feasible for people with SMI, improving physical and psychological quality of life compared to controls receiving usual care. Further research in larger samples is needed to study the potential effect of exercise via videoconferencing in mitigating the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental and physical health for people with SMI.