Treatment Effects From Aerobic Endurance Training and Maximal Strength Training in Patients Suffering From Schizophrenia

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Status: Completed

Conditions: Schizophrenia; Cardiovascular Disease

Treatments: Other: Aerobic high-intensity interval training (AIT); Other: Computer game training (CG); Other: Maximal strength training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00286299

4.2005.1507

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study investigates treatment effects from aerobic endurance training, maximal strength training and computer game on aerobic capacity, work efficiency and psychiatric symptoms in patients suffering from schizophrenia. The study is a controlled trial. The aim is to describe the population in respect to aerobic capacity and muscular strength. Low aerobic capacity and muscular strength are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The study also aim to evaluate physical and psychiatric effects from physical training. Effects from participation in physical training or computer game on symptoms, depression and quality of life will be investigated. Data will be collected between October 2005 and August 2007.

Enrollment: 33 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders (F20-F29) according to the international statistical classification of diseases and related health problems, 10th revision (ICD-10) prepared by the World Health Organization. Patients must have stable antipsychotic medication for six weeks prior to participation.

Exclusion criteria: coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, not being able to perform physical treadmill testing and exercise, and less than 80% compliance to the training sessions. All subjects go through a physical health examination at inclusion.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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33 participants in 3 patient groups

Aerobic interval training (AIT)

Experimental group

Description:

AIT is 4x4 minutes interval training on a treadmill at 85 to 95 % HRpeak interspersed with 3 min of active resting periods at a work load corresponding to 70 % HRpeak between each interval. Patients performed the intervals walking or running with a minimum of 5 % inclination.

Treatment:

Other: Aerobic high-intensity interval training (AIT)

Computer game training (CG)

Active Comparator group

Description:

36 minutes playing supervised computer games, Tetris, Xbox

Treatment:

Other: Computer game training (CG)

Maximal strength training (MST)

Experimental group

Description:

MST is performed in a leg press machine. The weight is lowered in a controlled manner in the eccentric phase until the patient reached 90 degrees in the knee joint. Then the patients has a short stop (\~0.5 second) before the weight is moved as rapidly as possible to complete extension. The training volume is 4 sets of 4RM (i.e. 85-90 % 1RM). The training load is increased with 2.5-5 kg each time patients managed to perform 4 sets with the determined load or each training session.

Treatment:

Other: Maximal strength training