The Effects of Different Modalities of Exercise in Patients With Schizophrenia

The aim of this proposed study will be to compare the effects of three physical exercise programs (strength, aerobic, and mixed) on the symptoms, body composition, level of physical activity, and health-related quality of life of patients with schizophrenia. A multicentre, single-blinded (evaluator), randomised, wait-list controlled (ratio 2:2:2:1) trial will be conducted with 105 patients recruited from different psychosocial care centres. The participants will be randomised into three 16-week training groups comprising 48 sessions lasting one hour each, or to the wait-list control group. The training groups will complete aerobic, strength, or mixed (aerobic + strength) training. The participants will be assessed before, immediately after, and 6 months after the end of the intervention. All the patients in the wait-list control group (n = 15) will receive one of the three trainings immediately after the intervention. The study variables will include positive symptomatology, negative symptomatology, and general symptomology (using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) as the primary outcome; as secondary outcome: body composition (by assessing body mass index, body fat mass and waist circumference), physical activity levels (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form), and quality of life (abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire).