Background: Incomplete remission rates for traditional pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments have led to consideration of diverse strategies to improve health outcomes for people with severe mental illness (SMI). While there is evidence that exercise interventions improve mental and physical health of people with SMI, the optimal type and intensity of exercise interventions is unclear. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has emerged as a promising intervention in other chronic disease populations. However, impact of this novel intervention on mental and physical health of people with SMI remains uncertain.

Objectives: This session aims to describe the purpose of a study to systematically review the literature regarding the feasibility, and mental and physical health outcomes of HIIT for people with SMI.

Methods: A literature search was conducted to identify journal articles published up to October 2018 that described intervention studies using HIIT to improve mental and/or physical health outcomes in adults (18–65 years) with SMI. Methodological quality was assessed using PEDRO, a quality assessment tool for exercise interventions.

Findings: Five unique articles were identified involving 195 participants. Preliminary findings revealed feasibility and tolerability, with improvements in total symptoms and mood. However, studies were heterogeneous, and quality of studies was poor, limiting conclusions.

Conclusions: Based on a small number of available studies, HIIT appears to be a feasible type of exercise intervention for people with SMI, and few safety concerns. However larger studies comparing HIIT to other types of exercise, designed with more robust methodology and conducted over a longer duration are required to understand the effect of HIIT as a therapy for people with SMI.