"InMotion" - Physical Training With Creative Movement as an Intervention for Adults With Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is among the world's top ten causes of long-term disability (World Health Organization, 2004). The major symptoms of SCZ include hallucinations, delusions, affective flattening, apathy and cognitive impairment. These symptoms lead to major problems in social and occupational functioning, and in self-care.

Our primary aim is to investigate the effects of 12-weeks of physical training with creative movement as an intervention given in addition to ongoing pharmacological treatment, in treating SCZ-symptoms compared to a control group. Secondary aim is to provide results regarding the effects of the intervention on (a) clinical symptom measures and quality of life, (b) levels of physical activity, physical function and measures of general health indicators, (a) clinical symptom measures and quality of life, (b) levels of physical activity, physical function and measures of general health indicators, (c) error detection and conflict resolution on the prefrontal cortex, memory and context processing (d) fluency of speak, and (e) emotional induction and regulation on specific emotions on the frontal cortex. Trough qualitative interviews, we will examine the participants' and their relative parties' experiences from taking part of the intervention and eventual experienced effects from it.

This study, called InMotion, is a prospective randomized controlled trial where the study participants will be randomized to 12-weeks of physical training with creative movement as an intervention in addition to standard care (intervention group) or to standard care alone (control group). The target group consists of adults with SCZ or SCZ-similar condition.

The intervention consists of organized training sessions in group, 2 times a week. The control group receives standard medical care and gets access to the intervention in digital form after the study has ended. The outcomes are measured at baseline, after 6 and 12 weeks, 6 months and 12 months. At all follow-ups, data are collected for both the intervention and control groups. The trial is being conducted in Örebro, Sweden. The study follows the standard methodology of intervention research.

60 patients with SCZ will be recruited continuously by staff at the psychiatry at the university hospital in Örebro. When matched to inclusion and exclusion criteria, written and informed consent will be obtained from all participants willing to participate. 30 patients will be randomized to participate in creative physical training in addition to continuing their conventional treatment plan (SCZ-I group) and 30 patients will be randomized to control group and receive treatment as usual (SCZ-C). Randomization to SCZ-I and SCZ-C groups will be done by sealed envelopes given to the participants after baseline measures.