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Schizophrenia, Nutrition and Choices in Kilojoules (SNaCK): protocol for a feasibility and acceptability randomised controlled trial of two dietary interventions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2025

Donni Johnston*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Services, Logan Central, Queensland, Australia
Urska Arnautovska
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Services, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Queensland, Australia
Andrea Baker
Affiliation:
Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Queensland, Australia
Ingrid J. Hickman
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Hannah L. Mayr
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Centre for Functioning and Health Research, Metro South Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Nicole Korman
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Services, Coorparoo, Queensland, Australia
Wolfgang Marx
Affiliation:
Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Food & Mood Centre, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Eryn Murray
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Nicola Warren
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Services, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Queensland, Australia
Sarah Weighell
Affiliation:
Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Services, Coorparoo, Queensland, Australia
Veronica De Monte
Affiliation:
Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Services, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
Gemma McKeon
Affiliation:
Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Queensland, Australia West Moreton Health Psychology, Wacol, Queensland, Australia Child Health Research Centre, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Dan Siskind
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Services, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Queensland, Australia
Scott B. Teasdale
Affiliation:
Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
*
Correspondence: Donni Johnston. Email: donni.johnston@uq.edu.au
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Abstract

Background

Individuals with schizophrenia experience significantly higher rates of chronic physical health conditions, driving a 20-year reduction in life expectancy. Poor diet quality is a key modifiable risk factor; however, owing to side-effects of antipsychotic medication, cognitive challenges and food insecurity, standard dietary counselling may not be sufficient for this population group.

Aim

To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of two dietary interventions – pre-prepared meals and meal kits – for individuals with schizophrenia.

Method

The Schizophrenia, Nutrition and Choices in Kilojoules (SNaCK) study is a 12-week, three-arm, cross-over, randomised controlled trial. Eighteen participants aged 18–64 years diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder will be recruited from community mental health services in Australia. Participants will be randomised to receive pre-prepared meals, meal kits or a supermarket voucher as a control, crossing-over at the end of weeks 4 and 8, so that all participants experience all three study arms. Primary outcomes include feasibility (recruitment rate and retention, number of days participants use pre-prepared meals or meal kits, adherence to meals as prescribed, difficulty in meal preparation and meal wastage) and acceptability (meal provision preference ranking and implementation) of the nutrition interventions. Secondary outcomes include the effects of the intervention on metabolic syndrome components, dietary intake, quality of life and food security measures.

Conclusions

Feasible, acceptable and effective dietary interventions for people with schizophrenia are urgently needed. Findings from this trial will inform future larger randomised controlled trials that have the potential to influence policy and improve health outcomes for this vulnerable population.

Information

Type
Paper
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Royal College of Psychiatrists
Figure 0

Fig. 1 Participant randomisation for each 4-week arm.

Figure 1

Table 1 Schedule of visits and assessments

Figure 2

Table 2 Primary outcome measures and criteria for success

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