The functional exercise capacity is correlated with global functioning in patients with schizophrenia Vancampfort D, Probst M, Scheewe T, Knapen J, De Herdt A, De Hert M. The functional exercise capacity is correlated with global functioning in patients with schizophrenia. Objective: The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is commonly used to measure the functional exercise capacity in chronic patients with cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the 6MWT is associated with the global assessment of functioning (GAF) score in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: A total of 68 male and 25 female in-patients with schizophrenia (34.6 ± 9.7 years; body mass index = 24.9 ± 4.4) performed a 6MWT and were assessed with the GAF scale and the Psychosis Evaluation tool for Common use by Caregivers (PECC). Results: The mean distance walked on the 6MWT was 587.3 ± 98.4 m, while the mean GAF score was 52.0 ± 10.4. The PearsonÕs correlation coefficient between the 6MWT and the GAF score was 0.59 (P < 0.001), indicating a moderate association between both measures. The 6MWT was also significantly related to negative (r = )0.45, P < 0.001), depressive (r = )0.48, P < 0.001) and cognitive (r=, P) symptoms and with body mass index (r = )0.31, P < 0.005), smoking behaviour (r = )0.36, P < 0.001)) and dose of antipsychotic medication (r = )0.38, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Next to the GAF scale, clinicians in in-patient settings should consider incorporating the 6MWT into their test battery to measure the functional consequences of schizophrenia and its treatment. D. Vancampfort 1,2 , M. Probst 1,2 , T. Scheewe 3 , J. Knapen 1,2 , A. De Herdt 2 , M. De Hert 1 1 University Psychiatric Centre Catholic University Leuven, Campus Kortenberg, Kortenberg, Belgium, 2 Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, Catholic University Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium and 3 University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands Key words: 6-minute walk test; global assessment of functioning; schizophrenia Davy Vancampfort, University Psychiatric Centre Cath- olic University Leuven, Campus Kortenberg, Kortenberg, Belgium. E-mail: davy.vancampfort@uc-kortenberg.be Accepted for publication December 15, 2011 Significant outcomes • The 6-minute walk test is a sensitive measure for in-patients with schizophrenia to assess the potential role of overweight, an unhealthy lifestyle and antipsychotic medication on a patientÕs functional outcome. • Clinicians in in-patients settings should consider to add the functional exercise capacity in daily care to measure the functional consequences of schizophrenia and its treatment. Limitations • The external validity could have been improved by including out-patients and parameters such as socio-economic status, educational level and duration of illness and treatment. • As a result of the limited sample size, we were not able to investigate mediating factors between the functional exercise capacity and global functioning. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2012: 125: 382–387 All rights reserved DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2011.01825.x Ó 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA 382