Do People With Mental Illness Age Faster?

A new study in the Psychiatric Rehabilation Journal compared physical functional measures of people with severe mental illness (SMI) to standardized geriatric values. Method: Retrospective analysis of physical functioning sample data of middle-aged people with SMI was compared to standardized older adult data. Compared: Sit to Stand Test (STS; n = 68), 6 min Walk Test (6MWT; n = 71), and Single Legged Stance Test (SLS; n = 55). One sample t tests were computed, using standardized values for older adult healthy populations, to identify differences for the group. Results: STS (M = 11.3 SD = 5.36), for the sample were comparable to 80–89 year old. The 6MWT values were significantly worse than 80–89-year-old range for women, t(28) = −2.88, p < .01, and men, t(40) = −5.32, p =. 00. SLS values for women and men were comparable to the 70–79-year-old range in the general population. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: People with SMI have functional fitness levels that are older than chronological age, and should be assessed regularly for physical functioning to support independent living. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

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