Lifestyle interventions in comorbid mental and physical illness: A systematic review protocol.

Background: Patients with mental health disorders (MHDs) often present with chronic illness and complain of pain and poor physical health. They present with a high burden of disease and poor quality of life. Significant associations between MHDs and chronic illness have been found. Lifestyle interventions are cost-effective strategies, which seem to be effective in managing comorbid mental and physical health disorders. Therefore, a summary of the evidence and clinical practice guidelines is needed in South Africa.

Objectives: Our study will aim to determine the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions on health-related quality of life, in patients with comorbid mental and physical health disorders.

Method: The systematic review will be conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for systematic reviews of effectiveness. MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCO), LiLACS, Scopus, Physiotherapy Evidence Data Base (PEDro) and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials will be searched. A three-step search strategy will identify published literature in all languages from 2011 to 2022. Critical appraisal of all included studies will be performed, and the relevant data will then be extracted. Where possible, data will be pooled in a statistical meta-analysis.

Results: The results will provide the best available evidence regarding lifestyle interventions in the management of patients with comorbid mental and physical health disorders.

Conclusion: Our review will provide evidence on the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in the management of patients with comorbid mental and physical health disorders.

Clinical implications: The results may assist in determining the best use of lifestyle interventions in the management of patients with MHDs and comorbidities.