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Exercise Therapy in Mental Disorders-study

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Schizophrenia and Related Disorders
Bipolar Disorder
Interventions
Other: High intensity training (HIT)
Registration Number
NCT06313918
Lead Sponsor
Haukeland University Hospital
Brief Summary

The study will compare standard high-intensity training with brief high-intensity training in people with schizophrenia-spectrum or bipolar disorder. The overall aim is to determine which of the two is superior in a long-term perspective.

Detailed Description

Background: Patients with severe mental disorders (SMD), including schizophrenia spectrum and bipolar disorders, frequently experience suboptimal treatment effectiveness resulting in disabling residual symptoms and cognitive challenges, and have elevated mortality risk amounting to 15-20 years of shortened life expectancy compared to the general population.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major contributor in this regard. Exercise in general improves cognitive functioning, negative symptoms, quality of life, and reduces the risk of CVD. High intensity training (HIT) has been shown to be feasible for persons with SMD, but attrition and noncompliance are substantial and likely to limit the effectiveness of HIT. A less strenuous HIT could increase adherence to the intervention, which might compensate for a slightly lower efficacy compared to standard HIT. Our study will compare standard 4x4-min HIT to a 4-min single-bout HIT session, as well as explore exercise effects on basic processes in the body. Methods: Patients with schizophrenia spectrum and bipolar disorders are eligible for participation, and those included will be randomized to 26 weeks of either 1) Standard 4 x 4 min HIT at treadmill, or 2) Short 1 x 4 min HIT at treadmill. To reduce dropout, the intervention will usually be delivered in group format, and conducted under the supervision of a physical therapist in collaboration with a postdoctor. The research group has a stable staff with research nurses, biostatisticians and researchers that will secure the dayto- day conductance of the project, including psychometric assessments, drawing of and biobanking of blood, as well as data collection and storing. Measures: Mental and cognitive symptoms, quality of life, motivation, Peak oxygen uptake (V

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
50
Inclusion Criteria
  • ICD-10 schizophrenia-spectrum disorder (F2)
  • ICD-10 bipolar disorder (F3)
  • Capacity to provide informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Contra-indication for exercise training and testing according to the American College of Sports Medicine specifications
  • Life threatening or terminal medical conditions
  • Not able to carry out intervention or test procedures
  • Current pregnancy
  • Mothers less than 6 months post-partum.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Short HITHigh intensity training (HIT)Short 1 x 4 min HIT at treadmill. Starting with 7 min warm-up walking/running, then 1 session with 4 min walking/running at 80-95% of maximal heart rate, ending with 5 min of cooling down. Two sessions per week for 26 weeks.
Standard HITHigh intensity training (HIT)Standard 4 x 4 min HIT at treadmill. First 7 min warm-up, then 4 sessions with 4 min walking/running at 80-95% of maximal heart rate, with 3 min of active rest in between. Ending with 5 min of cooling down. Two sessions per week for 26 weeks.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Adherence26 weeks

Proportion (number and percent) of completers at 26 weeks.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change of the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) score4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

Cognition

Change of the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionaire (BREQ) score4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

Motivation

Change of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation (DERS) score4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

Emotion regulation

Change of the International Physical Activity Questionaire (IPAQ) score4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

Physical activity

Change of the Simplified Negative and Positive Symptoms Interview (SNAPSI) score4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

Symptoms of psychosis

Change of the Calgary Depression Scale in Schizophrenia score4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

Symptoms of depression

Change of the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) score4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

Overall clinical state

Change of the Global Assessment of Funtioning (GAF) score4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

Functioning

Change of quality of life (QOL10) score4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

Quality of life

Change of hip- and waist circumference (centimetres)4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

Change of hip- and waist circumference

Change of body weight (kilograms)4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

Body weight change

Change of serum cholesterols (mmol/L)4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

Change of serum cholesterols

Change in heart rate (beats per minute)4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

Heart rate variability

Change of maximal oxygene extraction (VO2max)4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

Aerobic capacity

Change of level of inflammatory markers in blood4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

Inflammation

Change of serum glucose (mmol/L)4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

Change of serum glucose

Change of serum triglyceride (mmol/L)4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

Change of serum triglyceride (mmol/L)

Change of gene expression4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

RNA

Change of methylation of DNA4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

Epigenetic changes

Change of the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) score4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks from baseline

Symptoms of mania

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Haukeland University Hospital

🇳🇴

Bergen, Norway

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