Effect of Aerobic Exercise as Adjunct Therapy on the Improvement of Negative Symptoms and Cognitive Impairment in Patients With Schizophrenia: A Randomized, Case-Control Clinical Trial

The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of exercise on negative and cognitive symptoms and simultaneous evaluation of brain and hippocampus volume in patients with schizophrenia. Forty patients with schizophrenia were randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group, in addition to pharmacological treatment, underwent a multi-session exercise program for 8 weeks. At the beginning and end of the study, patients were assessed for cognitive status and negative symptoms using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), respectively. Total brain volume and hippocampus volume were also measured using magnetic resonance imaging. Overall, mean MMSE score significantly improved over time, but this improvement was greater in the intervention group (29%) compared to the control group (11%). The same was true for the PANSS negative score (21.5% vs. 53.5%). Absolute hippocampus volume during these 8 weeks, in exercise and control groups, increased from 6.24 to 7.11 and 6.44 to 6.59, respectively. The greater increase in volume obtained in the intervention group was statistically significant ( p = 0.003). Exercise may be associated with improved cognitive function and negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia; however, additional studies are warranted. [ Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 60 (5), 37–43.]