Aerobic exercise and cognitive functioning in schizophrenia: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Takeshi Shimada; Shoko Ito; Aya Makabe; Ayumi Yamanushi; Ami Takenaka; Masayoshi Kobayashi

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112638

Aerobic exercise and cognitive functioning in schizophrenia: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Psychiatry Res. 2019 Dec:282:112638. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112638. Epub 2019 Nov 1.

Authors

Takeshi Shimada¹, Shoko Ito², Aya Makabe², Ayumi Yamanushi², Ami Takenaka², Masayoshi Kobayashi³

Affiliations

¹ Medical Corporation Seitaikai Mental Support Soyokaze Hospital, 3057-1, Shiogawa, Ueda, Nagano, Japan. Electronic address: ot@seitaikai.or.jp.
² Medical Corporation Seitaikai Mental Support Soyokaze Hospital, 3057-1, Shiogawa, Ueda, Nagano, Japan.
³ Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Shinshu University, Nagano, Japan.

PMID: 31685285
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112638

Abstract

This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluated the combined effect of individual and group aerobic exercises (AEs) on cognition in schizophrenia. Among 32 randomized patients, 31 were included in the intent-to-treat population: 16 in treatment as usual (TAU) + AE and 15 in TAU groups. Over 12 weeks, patients were given a dose of 2 exercise sessions per week, including 1 individual session and 1 group session. TAU + AE patients showed significant improvements in cognition, intrinsic motivation, psychiatric symptoms, and interpersonal relations. These encouraging findings support the promise of integrated individual and group AEs to improve cognition and other outcomes in schizophrenia.

Keywords: Aerobic exercise; Cognition; Rehabilitation; Schizophrenia.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Adult
Cognitive Dysfunction / etiology
Cognitive Dysfunction / rehabilitation*
Exercise Therapy / methods*
Exercise*
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pilot Projects
Schizophrenia / complications
Schizophrenia / rehabilitation*
Treatment Outcome
Young Adult