High-intensity interval training may reduce depressive symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia, putatively through improved VO(2)max: A randomized controlled trial.
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) may improve cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and mental health. The current observer-blinded RCT investigates the sparsely studied efficiency of HIIT in reducing psychotic and non-psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia and complements previous studies by investigating whether symptom reduction following HIIT is associated with, putatively partly mediated by, increased VO2max.
Participants (outpatients meeting diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia) were randomized to HIIT (n = 43) or a comparison group performing low-intensity active video gaming (AVG) to control for social interaction (n = 39). Both interventions consisted of two supervised sessions/week for 12 weeks and a 4 months follow-up. Effects on overall symptoms and symptom domains [PANSS (0-6 scale), five-factor model] were estimated using mixed-effects models (intention-to-treat, n = 82). Underlying mechanisms were analyzed using moderated mediation analyses (n = 66). We anticipated that HIIT would reduce overall symptoms, particularly depressive symptoms, more than AVG, and symptom reduction would be associated with, putatively mediated through, improved VO2max.
Depressive symptoms (baseline score 3.97, 95% CI: 3.41, 4.52), were -1.03 points more reduced in HIIT than AVG at post-intervention (95% CI: -1.71, -0.35, p = 0.003), corresponding to a small to moderate effect size (d = 0.37) and persisting at follow-up. There was a small reduction in overall symptoms, but no significant between-group differences were observed. Change in VO2max correlated negatively with the change in depressive symptoms. Mediation analysis showed a significant effect of change in VO2max on change in depressive symptoms within HIIT. The total effect was moderated by group, and depressive symptoms were more reduced in HIIT. Direct effects, not mediated through VO2max, were non-significant. Indirect effects, mediated through VO2max, were non-significant, but the moderated mediation test indicated a non-significant trend of 0.4 points (95% CI: -1.188, 0.087) and a larger reduction in depressive symptoms through VO2max in HIIT.
HIIT reduced depressive symptoms more than AVG, which persisted at follow-up. HIIT may serve as a complementing treatment option targeting these symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia, even before they reach clinical depression. Depressive symptoms are important to prevent, stabilize, and treat due to their negative implications for psychological wellbeing and long-term functional outcome. Reduction in depressive symptoms was associated with improved VO2max, and non-significant trends in the data supported that improved VO2max may be part of the complex mechanisms underlying the anti-depressive effect of HIIT.
[www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT02205684].
Bang-Kittilsen G
,Engh JA
,Holst R
,Holmen TL
,Bigseth TT
,Andersen E
,Mordal J
,Egeland J
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《Frontiers in Psychiatry》
The Impact of Aerobic Exercise on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Neurocognition in Individuals With Schizophrenia: A Single-Blind, Randomized Clinical Trial.
Individuals with schizophrenia display substantial neurocognitive deficits for which available treatments offer only limited benefits. Yet, findings from studies of animals, clinical and nonclinical populations have linked neurocognitive improvements to increases in aerobic fitness (AF) via aerobic exercise training (AE). Such improvements have been attributed to up-regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). However, the impact of AE on neurocognition, and the putative role of BDNF, have not been investigated in schizophrenia. Employing a proof-of-concept, single-blind, randomized clinical trial design, 33 individuals with schizophrenia were randomized to receive standard psychiatric treatment (n = 17; "treatment as usual"; TAU) or attend a 12-week AE program (n = 16) utilizing active-play video games (Xbox 360 Kinect) and traditional AE equipment. Participants completed assessments of AF (indexed by VO2 peak ml/kg/min), neurocognition (MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery), and serum-BDNF before and after and 12-week period. Twenty-six participants (79%) completed the study. At follow-up, the AE participants improved their AF by 18.0% vs a -0.5% decline in the TAU group (P = .002) and improved their neurocognition by 15.1% vs -2.0% decline in the TAU group (P = .031). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that enhancement in AF and increases in BDNF predicted 25.4% and 14.6% of the neurocognitive improvement variance, respectively. The results indicate AE is effective in enhancing neurocognitive functioning in people with schizophrenia and provide preliminary support for the impact of AE-related BDNF up-regulation on neurocognition in this population. Poor AF represents a modifiable risk factor for neurocognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia for which AE training offer a safe, nonstigmatizing, and side-effect-free intervention.
Kimhy D
,Vakhrusheva J
,Bartels MN
,Armstrong HF
,Ballon JS
,Khan S
,Chang RW
,Hansen MC
,Ayanruoh L
,Lister A
,Castrén E
,Smith EE
,Sloan RP
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A randomized controlled trial examining a cognitive behavioral therapy intervention enhanced with cognitive remediation to improve work and neurocognition outcomes among persons with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
This single blind, three-armed randomized controlled trial compared cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) enhanced with cognitive remediation (CBT+CR) to CBT alone and an active control condition on work and neurocognition outcomes for persons with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Seventy-five adult outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were randomized to three study conditions (N=25 per group). The CBT intervention was the Indianapolis Vocational Intervention program (IVIP), consisting of weekly group and individual sessions focused on work-related content. Participants in the CBT+CR group received IVIP and Posit Science computer-based cognitive training. The active control group consisted of weekly vocational support groups and individual vocational support sessions. All participants were placed into a noncompetitive work assignment and were followed for 26weeks. Data collection included hours worked, weekly work performance ratings, and neurocognition assessed at baseline and 6months. Neurocognition was also assessed at 12months. Data were analyzed using multilevel linear models to account for nested, repeated measures data. Results indicate that participants in the CBT+CR condition worked significantly more hours and had a more positive trajectory of improving global work performance and work quality across the study compared with the CBT alone and vocational support condition. Compared to the other conditions, CBT+CR also had a significant increase in overall neurocognition that continued to the 12month follow-up, particularly in the domains of verbal learning and social cognition. In conclusion, CBT+CR may be an effective intervention to improve work functioning and neurocognition in persons with schizophrenia.
Kukla M
,Bell MD
,Lysaker PH
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