Improving Cognition Via Exercise in Schizophrenia
Condition: Schizophrenia and Related Disorders
MeSH terms: Schizophrenia
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      People with schizophrenia display a broad range of cognitive impairments that have been
      identified as major determinants of poor functioning and disability. Also, people with
      schizophrenia are at increased risk for suicide, with approximately 40-50% of individuals
      attempting to take their own lives during their lifetime. The goal of the proposed study is
      to examine the impact of remote exercise training on cognition, suicide risk, daily
      functioning, and biomarkers of cognitive change and suicidality in people with schizophrenia.
    

Detailed description: 
      The goal of the proposed study is to examine the impact of remote exercise training on
      cognitive functioning in people with schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia display a broad
      range of cognitive impairments that have been identified as major determinants of poor
      functional outcome and disability, thus representing an important public health concern and a
      target for interventions. At present, available treatments offer only minimal to limited
      benefits to ameliorate these deficits. Extensive animal and human research literatures
      converge in supporting the positive influence of aerobic exercise training on cognitive
      functioning. Preliminary data indicate that aerobic exercise training is effective in
      improving cognitive functioning in people with schizophrenia. However, previous studies
      employed small samples, focused on a single or limited range of cognitive domains, and/or
      collected insufficient information on daily functioning or putative biomarkers underlying
      cognitive change. Supported by supplement funding from NIMH, the goal of the proposed study
      is also to explore the impact of remote exercise training on suicide risk in individuals with
      schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia are at increased risk for suicide, with
      approximately 40-50% of individuals attempting to take their own lives during their lifetime,
      and an estimated 5-10% actually being successful in completing suicide. This highly elevated
      risk represents a serious public health concern and an important target for interventions.
      However, available treatments offer only minimal to limited benefits to ameliorate this risk.
      Extensive animal and human research literatures converge in supporting the positive influence
      of AE training on a number of predictors of suicide risk including depressed mood, sleep
      difficulties, and poor cognition. Yet, at present there are no studies directly examining the
      impact of AE on suicide risk in this population.
    

Intervention name(s): Aerobic Exercise; Stretching and Toning Exercise
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Trainer-led one hour aerobic exercise sessions, three times per week, over 12 weeks.; Trainer-led one hour stretching-and-toning exercise sessions, three times per week, over 12 weeks.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: This study is a single-blind, parallel assignment, multi-site randomized clinical trial designed to examine the impact of exercise on cognition, daily functioning, and biomarkers of cognitive change in people with schizophrenia.
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Schizophrenia; Aerobic Exercise; Cognition; Daily Functioning; Biomarkers; Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Suicide Risk