Citation

Sancassiani F, Lorrai S, Cossu G, Cocco A, Trincas G, Floris F, Mellino G, Machado S, Nardi AE, Fabrici EP, Preti A, Carta MG. Clin. Pract. Epidemol. Ment. Health 2017; 13: 220-232.

Affiliation

Center of Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic, University Hospital, , Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.2174/1745017901713010220

PMID

29299045

PMCID

PMC5725481

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity helps to improve several clinical outcomes of people with severe psychosocial disabilities. The aims of this study were; 1) to assess the efficacy of a psychosocial rehabilitative intervention focused on sailing in a crew on: a) social functioning; b) severity of the psychosocial disability; c) general functioning; d) dysregulation of biorhythms of people with severe psychosocial disabilities, and 2) to evaluate the attenders' satisfaction about the project.

METHODS: A randomized waitlist controlled trial with parallel groups was carried out involving 51 people with severe psychosocial disabilities. The intervention was a 3 months-lasting course to learn sailing in a crew. Just after the randomization, a group began the sailing course and the other group (wait list) attended the sailing course after 3 months of treatments as usual. Before and after the sailing course, as well as the waiting list period, all attenders were assessed by HoNOS, GAF, CGI-S and BRIAN. At the end of the sailing course, they completed also a self-report satisfaction questionnaire.

RESULTS: Social functioning significantly improved after the sailing course (HoNOS total score "time X group": p=0.011), mainly because of the improvement of psychopathological symptoms (HoNOS symptoms score "time X group": p=0.003). Furthermore, participants greatly appreciated the rehabilitative program based on sailing in a crew.

CONCLUSIONS: When compared to more traditional rehabilitative activities that are usually carried out in mental health services, a psychosocial rehabilitative intervention based on sailing in a crew significantly improve the social functioning of people with severe psychosocial disabilities.

Language: en

Keywords

Personal recovery; Physical activity; Psychosocial rehabilitation; Sailing; Social functioning; Sport; Stigma