Implementation of exercise therapy in daily clinical practice in psychiatric clinics in Germany

Exercise therapy has proven to be effective in the treatment of multiple mental illnesses. As mental disorders result in tremendous costs for the healthcare system as well as a huge burden for the affected individuals, improving treatment strategies according to latest scientific evidence should be of highest priority. In 2016 a first study provided indications that only a minority of patients are treated with exercise therapy during their stay in hospital. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess the actual extent of exercise therapy usage in psychiatric inpatients in Germany, thereby giving a scientific foundation to the call for a better standard of care. To achieve this, a retrospective analysis was performed on pre-existing data from 2693 patients who were treated in 1 of 4 participating university hospitals. Only 23% of these patients participated in exercise therapy with a mean training duration of 36 min per week. Patients with the diagnosis of schizophrenia or patients with multiple comorbidities were even less likely to participate in exercise therapy. With these findings it becomes evident that the healthcare situation concerning exercise therapy is insufficient. Solid evidence for the effectiveness of exercise therapy, the current treatment guidelines as well as the positive side effects, especially when compared to side effects of pharmacotherapy (i.e. weight gain) should motivate healthcare officials to make an effort to improve this situation.