Physical Activity and Sleep in 11-Year Old Children With a Familial High Risk of Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder. The Danish High Risk and Resilience Study-VIA 11

Anne Søndergaard*, Martin Wilms, Maja Gregersen, Julie Marie Brandt, Mette Falkenberg Krantz, Sinnika Birkehøj Rohd, Line Korsgaard Johnsen, Nicoline Hemager, Carsten Hjorthøj, Jessica Ohland, Anna Krogh Andreassen, Christina Bruun Knudsen, Lotte Veddum, Aja Greve, Vibeke Bliksted, Ole Mors, Peter Krustrup, Troels Thorsteinsson, Peter Schmidt-Andersen, Morten KjærgaardKasper Lykkegaard, Anne Amalie Elgaard Thorup, Merete Nordentoft

*Corresponding author for this work
1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: People with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are at increased risk of having comorbid somatic illness. This is partly due to lack of physical activity, which may originate from childhood. Sleep disturbances are associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We aimed to assess physical activity and sleep in children at familial high risk of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and population-based controls.

METHODS: This study is part of The Danish High Risk and Resilience Study-VIA 11. Children aged 11 born to parents with schizophrenia (FHR-SZ) (N = 133), bipolar disorder (FHR-BP) (N = 84), or controls (C) (N = 150) were assessed by accelerometry for an average of 6.9 days.

RESULTS: High-intensity physical activity was significantly lower in children at FHR-SZ and FHR-BP compared to controls, (mean hours per day for FHR-SZ: 0.29, SD 0.19, for FHR-BP: 0.27, SD 0.24, and for controls 0.38, SD 0.22, P = <.001). Sleep did not differ between the groups.

CONCLUSION: Children at FHR-SZ or FHR-BP had less physical activity compared to controls. Our study highlights a research area that reveals a hitherto unexplored disadvantage of being born to parents with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Further research is needed to enhance better understanding of causal pathways and consequences of reduced physical activity in children with FHR-SZ and FHR-BP.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbersgab055
JournalSchizophrenia Bulletin Open
Volume3
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)gab055
ISSN2632-7899
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2022

Keywords

  • Schizoprenia
  • bipolar disorder
  • children
  • high risk
  • physical activity

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Physical Activity and Sleep in 11-Year Old Children With a Familial High Risk of Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder. The Danish High Risk and Resilience Study-VIA 11'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this