Objective: The objective of the BRAIN FIT Project (Body PaRamaters MeAsure & it's INFluence on Psy & neU DIseases and Treatment), observation, multicentric and prospective study, was the findings of the relationship of the Body-mass Index and physical activity, and general functioning in patients with depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia (SCH) and neuropathic pain (NP) in outpatient care. Methods: The data were collected by outpatient psychiatrists and neurologists.
The doctors recorded demographic data, including current treatment, severity of illness (CGI, The Clinical Global Impression - Severity scale) and the level of global functioning (GAF, The Global Assessment of Functioning). The height, weight (BMI) and the waistline were measured and concurrently, patients assessed International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).
All measurements were repeated after 5-7 months. Results:1 137 patients was examined in in the first round and 856 (75,3 %) in both rounds - 263 patients with SCH (30,7 %), 352 with MDD (41,1 %) and 241 with NP (28,2 %).
BMI >=25-29,9 (overweight) was found in 34,4 % SCH, 39,2 % MDD and 38,6 % NP; BMI >= 30 (obesity) was found in 49,7 % SCH, 31,2 % MDD and 46,0 % NP. Correspondingly, higher average values of waistline were found across all diagnostic groups.
On the other hand, the activity levels reported by patients themselves were on average standard. Mild significant relationship was found between severity of illness (CGI), and BMI and waistline in patients with SCH (rho = 0,11), between global functioning (GAF) and BMI and waistline in MDD (rho = 0,13) and between level of global functioning and physical activity (rho = 0,31) in NP.
Conclusion: the results show the higher level of overweight and obesity in patients with schizophrenia, depressive disorder and neuropathic pain in outpatient care and their relation to the severity of clinical symptoms and the global functioning standard.