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Lora Humphrey Beebe

Bio: Lora Humphrey Beebe is an academic researcher from Tennessee Wesleyan College. The author has contributed to research in topics: Intervention (counseling). The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 32 citations.

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TL;DR: The WALC intervention was feasible and acceptable to participants; approximately two-thirds of all groups were attended and nearly half of participants attended at least 75% of groups.

35 citations


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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This study is among the first to examine interventions designed to enhance exercise motivation in SSDs and found WALC-S recipients attended more walking groups, for more weeks and walked more minutes than those receiving TAC.
Abstract: Ninety seven outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) were randomly assigned to the Walk, Address Sensations, Learn About Exercise, Cue Exercise Behavior for SSDs (WALC-S), a motivational intervention designed to increase exercise in SSDs (n = 48), or a time and attention control group (TAC, n = 49). WALC-S and TAC groups met weekly for 4 weeks before a 16 week walking program was offered to all subjects. We compared the exercise attendance, persistence and compliance of the groups during the walking program. WALC-S recipients attended more walking groups, for more weeks and walked more minutes than those receiving TAC. Percent of WALC-S or TAC groups attended was significantly correlated with overall attendance (r = 0.38, P = 0.001) and persistence (r = −.29, P = 0.01), as well as number of minutes walked. This study is among the first to examine interventions designed to enhance exercise motivation in SSDs.

95 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The aim of this study was to design and examine a program called the ‘pedometer walking plus motivational interviewing (PWMI) program’ in schizophrenic patients who are obese or overweight.
Abstract: Aim: The aim of this study was to design and examine a program called the ‘pedometer walking plus motivational interviewing (PWMI) program’ in schizophrenic patients who are obese or overweight Methods: This was a 12-week, randomized, parallel, open-label, controlled trial in mildly ill schizophrenic patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 230 kg/m2 or more Each participant in the intervention or control group was given a leaflet entitled ‘What is a healthy lifestyle?’ The 1-week, PWMI program consisted of five 1-h sessions of individual motivational interviewing, group education, goal-setting, and practising of pedometer walking The pedometers were given to the intervention group only Weight, height, BMI and waist circumference were assessed at baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12 The primary outcome of this trial was the changed bodyweight at week 4, week 8, and week 12 Results: Of 64 participants, 32 each were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups All participants completed the study Only the means of changed bodyweight at week 12 were significantly different between groups (P = 003) At this week, the bodyweight of the intervention group decreased significantly more than that of the control group with a mean difference of 221 kg (95% confidence interval of 412–029) Conclusion: Increased physical activity by pedometer walking plus individual motivational interviewing may be an effective program for the reduction of bodyweight and BMI in Thai schizophrenic patients who are obese or overweight Its efficacy may be comparable to other cognitive/behavioral programs Further studies in larger sample sizes are warranted

79 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In order to design successful physical activity interventions for this population, the intervention may need to be a routine part of the mental health treatment program and patients may need incentives to participate.
Abstract: The number of older adults with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, is predicted to more than double to 15 million by the year 2030 (Bartels, 2004). People with schizophrenia are the largest group of older people with severe mental health problems (Cohen et al., 2000). Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling psychotic disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, thought and movement disorders, negative symptoms, and cognitive impairment (National Institute of Mental Health, 2007). Data suggest that the physical function of older adults with schizophrenia is poor (Chafetz, White, Collins-Bride, Nickens, & Cooper, 2006; Kilbourne et al., 2005). Research among younger people with serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, shows that their physical function may resemble that of someone 10–20 years older (Chafetz, White, Collins-Bride, & Nickens, 2005). Physical function can be defined as a multilevel concept that includes the body functions and structures of people, the activities people conduct and life areas they participate in, and the environmental factors that affect these experiences (Jette, 2006). Decrements in physical function may contribute to poor health outcomes, increased use of health services, and decreased quality of life in this population. Physical activity may be a critical component to target in older adults with schizophrenia in order to improve physical function. Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement that enhances health (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008). Optimization of physical activity may help delay disability and maintain independent life in older adults (Tirodkar, Song, Chang, Dunlop, & Chang, 2008). Impairments in physical activity may hinder a person’s ability to care for their health needs. The multitude of chronic medical conditions experienced by people with schizophrenia, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, can jeopardize optimal physical activity. Furthermore, older adults with schizophrenia are susceptible to limitations in physical activity due to the aging process (Gallo, 2006). Physical activity improves physical function, gait speed, balance, and activities of daily living (ADLs) in older adults (Manini & Pahor 2009; Chou, Hwang, & Wu, 2012). Improved mood and enhanced cognition have been associated positively with physical activity (Deslandes et al., 2009). Physical activity may be an effective and economical adjunct treatment for age-related neurodegenerative processes (Deslandes et al., 2009). Exercise is planned, structured, and repetitive movement done to improve or maintain one or more component of physical fitness (Chodzko-Zajko et al., 2009). Exercise may provide a way for patients with serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, to socially integrate (Knochel et al., 2012). Despite the obvious need for research to improve the health of this especially vulnerable population, less than 10% of published research in schizophrenia focuses on older adults (Mittal et al., 2006). In order to improve the physical function of older adults with schizophrenia, interventions are needed that target their unique needs. Currently, no published data are available on physical activity interventions that promote physical function in this population. However, before physical activity interventions can be designed and tested to improve the physical function of older adults with schizophrenia, additional research is needed on the factors that contribute to engage in physical activity. Only six studies (Archie, Wilson, Osborne, Hobbs, & McNiven, 2003; Beebe & Smith, 2010; Daumit et al., 2005; Fogarty & Happell, 2005; McDevitt, Snyder, Miller, & Wilbur, 2006; Weissman, Moot, & Essock, 2006) that included a total of 275 participants, who ranged in age from 16 to 65, have evaluated the barriers and facilitators to engage in physical activities in younger people with schizophrenia. No studies were identified that evaluated facilitators and barriers in older adults with schizophrenia. An examination of perceived barriers and facilitators to engage in physical activities that promote physical function may provide insights into the factors associated with poor physical function and provide a foundation for intervention research. The involvement of mental health staff in the design and implementation of a physical activity intervention may ensure that the promotion of physical activity reinforces other efforts to improve overall health and well-being (Richardson et al., 2005). In addition to their specific knowledge of this population, the staff have a uniquely informed perspective on what might successfully be implemented within specific mental health programs. In this article, we present the findings from a qualitative grounded theory study that explored mental health staff perceptions about barriers and facilitators to engage in physical activity among older adults with schizophrenia.

39 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review investigated if walking can a) reduce weight and b) have a positive influence on other health parameters in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders in in- or outpatient settings.
Abstract: Aim: Walking is a popular type of physical activity in individuals with schizophrenia – yet the benefits remain unclear. The aim of this review was to investigate if walking can a) reduce weight and b) have a positive influence on other health parameters in individuals (aged 16 years and over) with schizophrenia spectrum disorders in in- or outpatient settings. Methods: A systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyse (PRISMA) statement was conducted. Major electronic databases were searched from inception to January 2014. Articles were eligible that: considered the effect of a walking intervention; had included at least 75% of the intervention programme as walking rather than another type of physical activity; considered patients formally diagnosed using standard criteria of schizophrenia or schizo-affective spectrum disorders; and used outcome measures that captured the patient's bio-psychosocial health. Two independent authors conducted the se...

37 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Social support appears to have an important role to help individuals with schizophrenia initiate, comply and adhere with exercise interventions, and may have an indirect benefit on weight maintenance.
Abstract: Purpose: To review and synthesise the literature detailing the use of social support to facilitate physical activity participation in individuals with schizophrenia. Method: A systematic review of major electronic databases was conducted to identify literature regarding the use of social support to promote physical activity among people with schizophrenia. A narrative synthesis was undertaken in four stages, including development of a theory, developing a preliminary synthesis, exploring relationships and assessing the robustness of the synthesis. Results: From a total of 110 studies, 23 met the inclusion criteria including 883 individuals with schizophrenia. Informational support was the most documented form of social support, followed by emotional, esteem and tangible. Providers included research personnel, healthcare professionals, family members and peers. Details of the content of the different dimensions of functional support are given. Social support appears to have an important role to hel...

37 citations