Scientists Call for Exercise Integration in Psychiatric Care

Researchers urge mental health professionals to make physical activity a standard part of treatment.

Mar. 5, 2026 at 2:26pm

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A recent review published in JAMA Psychiatry has prompted scientists at the Medical University of Vienna to urgently call for exercise to be recognized as an integral part of psychiatric treatment. The review highlights the significant health disparities faced by those with mental illnesses, who die 10-20 years earlier on average due to increased cardiovascular and metabolic diseases - often exacerbated by sedentary lifestyles. Researchers propose a practical '5A' framework to empower mental health professionals to incorporate personalized exercise plans into standard care.

Why it matters

This shift represents a major opportunity to improve the lives and lifespans of millions living with mental illness. Exercise has been shown to provide moderate to large improvements in depression, psychotic symptoms, cognitive performance, quality of life, and cardiometabolic health - yet it remains an underutilized component of psychiatric treatment. Integrating physical activity could help address the 'shameful inequality' of premature mortality faced by this population.

The details

The review highlights that individuals with schizophrenia spend nearly 10 hours per day sedentary, with less than 20% meeting WHO recommendations for weekly physical activity. Those with depression or bipolar disorder are up to 50% less likely to be sufficiently active compared to their peers. Lack of exercise disrupts the body's stress hormone system, increases inflammation, impairs dopamine reward circuits, and reduces levels of BDNF - a crucial protein for brain health and mood regulation. Fortunately, exercise can actively reverse these processes.

  • The JAMA Psychiatry review was recently published on March 5, 2026.

The players

Medical University of Vienna

The institution that led the research team calling for the integration of exercise into psychiatric care.

Brendon Stubbs

Lead author of the JAMA Psychiatry review and researcher at the Medical University of Vienna.

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What they’re saying

“The drastically reduced life expectancy of people with severe mental illness is one of the most shameful inequalities in modern medicine. Exercise is not a panacea, but it is a proven, universally accessible and cost-effective tool that can really help reduce this inequality.”

— Brendon Stubbs, Researcher

What’s next

The review proposes the '5A model' - Ask, Assess, Advise, Assist, and Arrange - as a practical framework for mental health professionals to systematically integrate exercise into standard psychiatric care.

The takeaway

This shift towards prioritizing physical activity in mental healthcare represents a significant opportunity to improve the lives and lifespans of millions living with mental illness. By recognizing exercise as a crucial component of treatment, alongside medication and therapy, mental health professionals can help address the stark health disparities faced by this population.