Description
Mental disorders represent considerable health problem and they can be defined as a “state of health which characteristic features cover changes of thinking and behaviour and mood swings, or as the case may be the combination of the previous features, coupled with problems or dysfunction”. Roughly 27 % of the adult population of EU at the age of 18 – 65 are suffering or suffered at least once from a mental disorder during the last year. The objective of the research is to extend scientific, investigative and innovative cooperation between the Czech Republic, Norway and mental hospitals. In the project both sides have to unit their research methods and work with mental ill patients in hospitals. The partner of the project is the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. Within the bounds of the project we expect an active close cooperation with our Norwegian partners with an aim to establish sustainable cooperation for future research, innovation and other activities. For both sides the project is a great opportunity to create a Czech-Norwegian research based on earlier knowledges, theoretical backgrounds and information from both countries.
Summary of project results
Physical Activity as a Part in Treatment of Psychiatric Patients, The"Psych Pat Project" for short was designed as an interdisciplinary research in the health sphere, social sciences and the humanities in cooperation of Czech and Norwegian research organisations regarding basic and applied research. The increasing number of individuals with mental illness is a phenomenon which represents a current issue in the sphere of social sciences and the humanities. The PsychPAT project is an international project consisting of researchers from the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Department of coaching and psychology, and the University of Usti nad Labem, Faculty of Education, Department of psychology and Faculty of Health Sciences, the Czech Republic. In both countries was set up cooperation between several mental hospitals, where the research was carried out. The objective of the project was to extend scientific, investigative and innovative cooperation between the Czech Republic, Norway and mental hospitals/institutions and establish sustainable cooperation for future research, innovation and other activities. The main issue of the research was to explore the role of physical activity in the state of health of mentally ill individuals in mental hospitals through an intervention consisting of physical activity as health promotion or psychomotor therapy. Further it was to describe and support motivational strategies to overcome obstacles to active participation in physical activity and to create sufficient facilities and background for the implementation of the movement programmes. The project should contribute to the development of capacities and building of competences. The main outcomes of the project are one collaborative article from both countries in a peer reviewed international journal, articles from each country based on the research in professional journals; three collaborative monographs; three international conferences organised in Czech Republic in Usti nad Labem, where both teams presented progress of the PSYCHPAT project; presentation and publicity of the project in international congresses and also in psychiatric hospitals; guidelines for ethics; courses for personnel; courses for investigation teams; manuals for instructors.
Summary of bilateral results
It was needed because of the health situation of psychiatric patients in Europe. They have short life expectancy and high comorbidity. This is due to factors that can be helped by increasing physical activity. Increasing physical activity can be reached by working with the motivation. In the project we worked with the motivation of staff in psychiatric hospitals in the special courses (Based on Self-determination theory of motivation and motivational interviewing) and then with psychiatric patients (motivational physical activity intervention), so we expected that some changes in motivation towards physical activity would be sustained. We published scientific publications for professionals and also published practical manuals and guidelines for use in the institutions. One of the aims of the project was to contribute to quality of life of psychiatric patients (see application). Most of the materials developed in the project will be used in further work in this field. Psychiatric hospitals will continue to use the aspects of motivational movement programs. During the project we published 2 monographs, the third monograph will be published in 2018. In cooperation with Norwegian partner we submitted 2 scientific articles in European journals. We expect to submit next 2 scientific articles in the year 2018. It made it possible to conduct a type of research that has been difficult to get funded earlier. The research in Czech Republic was inspired by theoretical background of the Self-determination theory and motivational interviewing already used in Norway in education of movement therapists and in research, which is new attitude for the central Europe both in practise and in the research. Thanks to donor partnership was realised international cooperation in practise and research in psychiatry field based on experiences of university staff of both countries. In research we used in some ways similar measurement tools so we can some of the results and attitudes compare, which is new contribution to this scientific area and never done in the Czech Republic before.