The effectiveness of a nutrition intervention for youth with first-episode psychosis: results from a step-down program at two-year follow-up

Poster A73, Monday, October%208, 11:30%20am%20-%201:00%20pm, Essex%20Ballroom

Scott B. Teasdale1,2, Philip B. Ward2, Jackie Curtis1,2, Andrew Watkins1,3, Oscar Lederman1,2, Simon Rosenbaum1,2, Megan Kalucy1,2, Julia Lappin1,2, Rachel Morell1,2, Katherine Samaras4,5; 1Keeping the Body in Mind Program, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Australia, 2School of Psychiatry, UNSW, Australia, 3Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia, 4Department of Endocrinology, St Vincent's Hospital, Australia, 5Diabetes and Metabolism Division, Garvan Institute for Medical Research, Australia

Severe mental illness is characterised by a 20-year mortality gap due to premature cardiometabolic disease. Dietary intake is an important and modifiable risk factor for cardiometabolic disease. Our prior work found that a 12-week intensive, individualised nutrition intervention improved dietary intake and, combined with a physical activity intervention, prevented antipsychotic-induced weight gain. This study reports the effects of a two-year Step-Down Program, following the 12-week intensive intervention. The Step-Down Program offered individualised dietetic consultations and practical group sessions. Energy intake, diet quality and discretionary food intake were measured by food frequency questionnaires in 67% of participants (n=12) who were still engaged at 2-years. Diet quality remained significantly higher at the two-year mark compared to baseline [mean change = 2.9, 95%CI 0.8 to 5.8, p <0.05]. This was predominantly driven by increased vegetable variety and amount [mean change = 3.1, 95%CI 1.6 to 4.6, p = 0.001]. Intake of discretionary food was 40% lower compared to baseline [mean change = -1,421kJ, 95%CI -3,226 to 384, p = 0.02]. These dietary improvements were associated with sustained weight [mean change = 1.3kg, 95%CI -4.0 to 6.6, p = 0.6] and waist-circumference [mean change = 0.1cm, 95%CI -4.9 to 5.1, p = 0.9] neutrality at 2-years. A nutrition intervention delivered during the first two years of antipsychotic medication treatment improves dietary intake and contributes to the attenuation of antipsychotic-induced weight-gain as part of a larger lifestyle program.

Topic Area: First Episode Psychosis

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