Multimodal Physical Exercise Program (Physical Exercise for Psychosis) for People With Psychosis Treated With Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics

Summary

People with psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, often experience significant difficulties in daily functioning, physical health, and quality of life. Long-acting injectable antipsychotics are an important part of treatment, but they can be associated with metabolic side effects and reduced physical fitness. Physical exercise has shown potential benefits for mental and physical health in this population; however, structured exercise programs implemented in real-world psychiatric services are still limited.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and clinical impact of a structured, multimodal physical exercise program for adults with psychosis who are receiving long-acting injectable antipsychotic treatment. The study aims to determine whether participation in a supervised exercise program can improve physical functioning, psychological well-being, and selected biological markers related to brain health and metabolism.

This study will be conducted in an outpatient psychiatric setting in Portugal and will include adults diagnosed with psychosis who are currently treated with long-acting injectable antipsychotics. Participants will be allocated to either an exercise group or a control group receiving usual care. The exercise program will last 24 weeks and will include aerobic, strength, mobility, and flexibility exercises, with supervised sessions conducted by qualified professionals.

Participants will be assessed at baseline, during the intervention, after completion of the program, and at follow-up. Assessments will include measures of physical function, body composition, psychological well-being, quality of life, and blood-based biomarkers such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, dopamine, serotonin, and metabolic indicators.

The main hypothesis of this study is that individuals who participate in the physical exercise program will show improvements in physical function, mood, and overall well-being compared with those receiving usual care alone. The results of this study are expected to provide practical evidence to support the integration of structured physical exercise as an adjunct to routine psychiatric care for people with psychosis.

Conditions

• Psychotic Disorders
• Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSD)
• Severe Mental Illness

Interventions

OTHER

Physical Exercise

The program will be multimodal, integrating various exercise components. The aerobic component will consist of activities like walking, cycling, and circuit training. The functional strength component will include 2 to 3 exercises for the lower limbs, 2 to 3 exercises for the upper limbs, 1 to 2 exercises for the trunk and abdominal muscles, as well as 1 to 2 multi-joint exercises like burpees, swing kettlebell, among others. Lastly, the program will also incorporate mobility, balance, and flexibility exercises, such as stretching, postures, and joint mobilization.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Centro Hospitalar De Trás-Os-Montes E Alto Douro, E.P.E.

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-01-01

Primary Completion

2026-10-31

Completion

2026-11-30

Countries

• Portugal

Study Locations