The acceptability of lifestyle medicine for the treatment of mental illness: perspectives of people with and without lived experience of mental illness
Abstract Objective While lifestyle medicine can be highly effective for treating a range of mental illnesses these approaches are grossly underutilised and have not been systematically implemented into health care systems. Understanding the acceptability of lifestyle medicine is a critical first ste...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17683-y |
| _version_ | 1797355410006474752 |
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| author | Karyn Richardson Rachel Petukhova Sam Hughes Joseph Pitt Murat Yücel Rebecca Segrave |
| author_facet | Karyn Richardson Rachel Petukhova Sam Hughes Joseph Pitt Murat Yücel Rebecca Segrave |
| author_sort | Karyn Richardson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective While lifestyle medicine can be highly effective for treating a range of mental illnesses these approaches are grossly underutilised and have not been systematically implemented into health care systems. Understanding the acceptability of lifestyle medicine is a critical first step to remediate this. This study evaluated the acceptability of lifestyle medicine relative to pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, and explore perspectives of people with and without lived experience of mental illness. Methods Six hundred and forty-nine adult Australian residents (62.6% female; 53.6% with a lifetime diagnosis of mental illness) completed an online survey based on the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability assessing the acceptability of lifestyle medicine, pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy for treating mental illness. Results Most participants felt positive about lifestyle medicine (76.9%) and felt that such approaches aligned with their personal values (74.9%). They understood how lifestyle medicine worked (86.4%) and believed it would be effective (69.6%). Lived experience of mental illness was associated with greater perceived burden and lower self-efficacy to engage in lifestyle medicine activities (both p < 0.001). While there was a clear preference for psychotherapy and lifestyle medicine over pharmacotherapy, pharmacotherapy was perceived as least effortful (p < .001) and participants were least confident in their ability to engage in lifestyle medicine (p < 0.05). Conclusion The findings indicate strong acceptability of lifestyle medicine for mental illness, a preference for non-pharmacological treatment approaches, and an understanding of the challenges associated with making long-term healthy lifestyle modifications amongst people who have lived experience of mental illness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:10:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1a52a41d165c4dcabc6ee67613df994a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:10:44Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-1a52a41d165c4dcabc6ee67613df994a2024-01-14T12:41:23ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-01-0124111110.1186/s12889-024-17683-yThe acceptability of lifestyle medicine for the treatment of mental illness: perspectives of people with and without lived experience of mental illnessKaryn Richardson0Rachel Petukhova1Sam Hughes2Joseph Pitt3Murat Yücel4Rebecca Segrave5BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences & Monash Biomedical Imaging Facility, Monash UniversityBrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences & Monash Biomedical Imaging Facility, Monash UniversityBrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences & Monash Biomedical Imaging Facility, Monash UniversityBrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences & Monash Biomedical Imaging Facility, Monash UniversityBrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences & Monash Biomedical Imaging Facility, Monash UniversityBrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences & Monash Biomedical Imaging Facility, Monash UniversityAbstract Objective While lifestyle medicine can be highly effective for treating a range of mental illnesses these approaches are grossly underutilised and have not been systematically implemented into health care systems. Understanding the acceptability of lifestyle medicine is a critical first step to remediate this. This study evaluated the acceptability of lifestyle medicine relative to pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, and explore perspectives of people with and without lived experience of mental illness. Methods Six hundred and forty-nine adult Australian residents (62.6% female; 53.6% with a lifetime diagnosis of mental illness) completed an online survey based on the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability assessing the acceptability of lifestyle medicine, pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy for treating mental illness. Results Most participants felt positive about lifestyle medicine (76.9%) and felt that such approaches aligned with their personal values (74.9%). They understood how lifestyle medicine worked (86.4%) and believed it would be effective (69.6%). Lived experience of mental illness was associated with greater perceived burden and lower self-efficacy to engage in lifestyle medicine activities (both p < 0.001). While there was a clear preference for psychotherapy and lifestyle medicine over pharmacotherapy, pharmacotherapy was perceived as least effortful (p < .001) and participants were least confident in their ability to engage in lifestyle medicine (p < 0.05). Conclusion The findings indicate strong acceptability of lifestyle medicine for mental illness, a preference for non-pharmacological treatment approaches, and an understanding of the challenges associated with making long-term healthy lifestyle modifications amongst people who have lived experience of mental illness.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17683-yLifestyle medicineBehavioural interventionsPsychiatryAcceptabilityImplementation |
| spellingShingle | Karyn Richardson Rachel Petukhova Sam Hughes Joseph Pitt Murat Yücel Rebecca Segrave The acceptability of lifestyle medicine for the treatment of mental illness: perspectives of people with and without lived experience of mental illness BMC Public Health Lifestyle medicine Behavioural interventions Psychiatry Acceptability Implementation |
| title | The acceptability of lifestyle medicine for the treatment of mental illness: perspectives of people with and without lived experience of mental illness |
| title_full | The acceptability of lifestyle medicine for the treatment of mental illness: perspectives of people with and without lived experience of mental illness |
| title_fullStr | The acceptability of lifestyle medicine for the treatment of mental illness: perspectives of people with and without lived experience of mental illness |
| title_full_unstemmed | The acceptability of lifestyle medicine for the treatment of mental illness: perspectives of people with and without lived experience of mental illness |
| title_short | The acceptability of lifestyle medicine for the treatment of mental illness: perspectives of people with and without lived experience of mental illness |
| title_sort | acceptability of lifestyle medicine for the treatment of mental illness perspectives of people with and without lived experience of mental illness |
| topic | Lifestyle medicine Behavioural interventions Psychiatry Acceptability Implementation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17683-y |
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