A multi-modal lifestyle intervention for children with mental disorders

A recent study conducted by researchers from Radboudumc’s Department of Psychiatry and Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry revealed a high prevalence of somatic comorbidities in children and adolescents with various mental illnesses. The primary somatic comorbidities, comprised problems associated with food intake, including overweight, obesity and vitamin D3 deficiency, as well as sleeping problems, mainly insomnia. These findings, published in Child Psychiatry and Human Development on September 1, 2023, may be related to an unhealthy lifestyle in the family. A poor lifestyle quality may have a major impact on children's physical, mental, and social functioning. Further investigation and multidisciplinary treatment are warranted across mental illnesses for children and adolescents.

Many children with mental illnesses display comorbid somatic symptoms, although these are often overlooked. From studies mainly in adults, it is known that the pathways between mental and somatic conditions are complex, bidirectional and share common risk factors. Early detection and interventions in children may be particularly effective because of their preventive character for mental and somatic outcomes.  However, mental illness in children is a largely ignored risk factor for physical illnesses later in life. 

Motivated to enhance mental and physical healthcare for children with mental illnesses, Radboudumc researcher Jet Muskens, initiated the inclusion of a somatic assessment into the mental state examination of children and adolescents with various mental diagnoses to explore and identify new or not yet recognized somatic co-morbidities. This allows for the recognition, prevention, and treatment of somatic comorbidities, adverse effects of medication, and unhealthy lifestyles in children and adolescents, with referrals to healthcare professionals if necessary. The findings indicated a broad variation of somatic conditions across mental illnesses including problems related to food intake, weight, sleep and inactivity in children and adolescents. These findings could be attributed to an unhealthy lifestyle, characterized by factors such as unbalanced diets, sedentary behavior, inadequate physical activity, sleep problems, and excessive screen use.

To address the physical health disparity in this population, the research group led by Wouter Staal, Department of Psychiatry, designed a multi-modal lifestyle intervention study (Movementss) in routine clinical care for children with mental illness and their family (ZonMw, grant number 555003205). This study comprises integrated care focusing on multiple lifestyle factors (healthy diet, sleep, physical activity and screen time), including digital psycho-education, social support by family and peers for children with various mental illnesses. This ongoing study seeks to assess the effectiveness of a multimodal lifestyle intervention in the child mental health population guided by multidisciplinary professionals.

Read the publication here

Muskens, J.B., Ester, W.A., Klip, H. et al. Novel Insights into Somatic Comorbidities in Children and Adolescents Across Psychiatric Diagnoses: An Explorative Study. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev (2023).