title: Exercise therapy improves mental and physical health in schizophrenia: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this multicenter randomised clinical trial was to examine the effect of exercise versus occupational therapy on mental and physical health in schizophrenia patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-three patients with schizophrenia were randomly assigned to 2 h of structured exercise (n = 31) or occupational therapy (n = 32) weekly for 6 months. Symptoms (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) and cardiovascular fitness levels (Wpeak and VO2peak ), as assessed with a cardiopulmonary exercise test, were the primary outcome measures. Secondary outcome measures were the Montgomery and Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, Camberwell Assessment of Needs, body mass index, body fat percentage, and metabolic syndrome (MetS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intention-to-treat analyses showed exercise therapy had a trend-level effect on depressive symptoms (P = 0.07) and a significant effect on cardiovascular fitness, measured by Wpeak (P < 0.01), compared with occupational therapy. Per protocol analyses showed that exercise therapy reduced symptoms of schizophrenia (P = 0.001), depression (P = 0.012), need of care (P = 0.050), and increased cardiovascular fitness (P < 0.001) compared with occupational therapy. No effect for MetS (factors) was found except a trend reduction in triglycerides (P = 0.08).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise therapy, when performed once to twice a week, improved mental health and cardiovascular fitness and reduced need of care in patients with schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. tscheewe@umcutrecht.nl
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Scheewe
authors.forename: F J G
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Backx
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takken
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jörg
authors.forename: A C P
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: van Strater
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kroes
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult