As We Were and As We Should Be, Combined Exercise Training in Adults With Schizophrenia: CORTEX‐SP Study Part II

Abstract

ObjectiveTo determine the changes in health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and sleep quality following a supervised combined exercise (EX) program compared to a Treatment‐As‐Usual (TAU) and to analyze the relationship between the differences in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and HRQoL domains in people with schizophrenia (SZ).MethodsThe SZ (n = 112, 41.3 ± 10.4 year) was randomly assigned into a TAU control group (n = 53) or EX‐group (n = 59, 3 days/week). The 36‐item Short‐Form Health Survey questionnaire assessed HRQoL and the sleep quality analysis (accelerometry).ResultsAfter the intervention (20 weeks), physical functioning (∆ = 12.9%), general health (∆ = 15.3%), mental health (∆ = 8.3%), physical component summary (PCS) (∆ = 5.1%), and sleep efficiency (∆ = 1.9%) increased (p < 0.05) in the EX, with no significant changes in the TAU for any domains studied. There were significant differences between groups whose EX showed improvements (p < 0.05) compared to TAU in physical functioning, general health, PCS, and sleep efficiency. A greater CRF was associated with better values in physical functioning, role‐physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, and PCS after the exercise program in SZ.ConclusionsA 20‐week supervised combined exercise intervention program for SZ increased sleep efficiency and physical functioning, general and mental health, and PCS scores. This could lead to a critical HRQoL change from how they were to how they should be.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03509597