Abstract
BackgroundPsychosis is a serious mental illness that typically emerges during early adulthood. The disorder is characterized by inactivity, cognitive deficits and the need for ongoing support. Regular exercise has mood enhancing and anxiolytic effects that could benefit this patient group. To date, few studies have examined the effects of prescribed exercise on autonomy, health and cognitive functioning in psychosis.Methods/DesignThis is a single-center, randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a 3-month follow-up. Usual care plus a 12-week supervised exercise program will be compared to usual outpatient care alone. The primary outcome will be patient autonomy measured by the Camberwell Assessment of Need (CAN) schedule – clinician rated. Secondary outcomes include cardiovascular risk factors, cognitive functioning, substance abuse, body awareness, depression and mood state. Changes in inflammatory markers and microbiotica will be explored. The feasibility of using patients as exercise trainers will also be assessed.DiscussionThe treatment potential for exercise in psychosis is large because most individuals with the disorder are young and inactive. The study is one of the first to comprehensively assess the effects of regular exercise in young adults with psychosis. Sessions will be closely supervised and adjusted to meet patient needs. Both the feasibility and treatment effects of exercise interventions in psychosis will be discussed.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register DRKS00008991 7 August 2015.
Highlights
Psychosis is a serious mental illness that typically emerges during early adulthood
The treatment potential for exercise in psychosis is large because most individuals with the disorder are young and inactive
Psychosis is a serious mental disorder characterized by a loss of contact with reality and deterioration in social and occupational functioning
Summary
A Cochrane review from 2010 concluded that exercise interventions for schizophrenia are feasible and may have beneficial psychobiological effects [33]. This study will be one of the first to comprehensively assess the health-related effects of regular exercise in young adults with psychosis. Exercise interventions for this patient group need to be carefully adjusted and supervised; motor coordination and sensory integration may be impaired, which can adversely affect coordination and body awareness [36]. Dr Maria Mattson, head of the Midhagen unit, co-designed the study and will implement the project; Dr Mats Hallgren, post-doctoral researcher, will assist with project coordination and analyze the project data; Associate Professor Orjan Ekblom, senior lecturer, will coordinate exercise testing and training and assist in the interpretation of the physical activity data; Associate professor Catharina Lavebratt, will analyze the biological data and coordinate manuscripts on inflammatory markers and microbiotica.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
