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Strategic Timing of Resistance Training to Guard Against Antipsychotic-Induced Metabolic Syndrome

NCT07386483 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 40

Last updated 2026-02-09

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This study is evaluating whether a supervised resistance training (strength training) programme is feasible to perform in a first-episode psychosis service. It is also evaluating if resistance training can prevent harmful weight gain and improve physical health in people who have recently been diagnosed with First-Episode Psychosis and are starting antipsychotic medication.

Antipsychotic medications are essential for treating psychosis, but they frequently cause rapid weight gain and metabolic side effects (such as changes in blood sugar and cholesterol) within the first few months of treatment. Resistance training is a form of exercise that builds muscle and improves how the body uses energy. An excess of calories, which would otherwise lead to accumulation of fat (adipose tissue), can help build strength and increase muscle size when paired with resistance training.

Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:

Intervention Group: Participants will receive their standard medical care plus a 12-week resistance training programme. This involves attending two 60-minute exercise sessions per week, supervised by a qualified instructor. The sessions will include exercises using resistance bands, machine weights, and free weights tailored to the individual's ability.

Control Group: Participants will receive standard medical care only for the first 12 weeks.

The study uses a "crossover" design, which means that after the initial 12 weeks, the Control Group will be offered the same 12-week resistance training programme.

The main goals of this study are to determine if it is feasible to run this type of exercise programme for this group of patients and to measure the effects of the training on body fat levels, muscle strength, and overall physical and mental health

Conditions

Interventions

OTHER

Resistance training programme

Participants will attend a 12-week supervised resistance training programme consisting of two 60-minute sessions per week. Each session includes a 5-10 minute aerobic warm-up, 45-50 minutes of resistance exercises, and a 5-minute cool-down. The programme is individualised and supervised by a qualified exercise practitioner. The intervention targets major muscle groups using 6-8 core exercises (e.g., chest press, lat pulldown, leg press, seated row, overhead press) performed in 3 sets of 6-12 repetitions. Training begins with resistance bands to establish technique (weeks 1-2) before progressing to machine and free weights. The principle of progressive overload is applied by increasing the weight once a participant can comfortably complete 3 sets of 10 repetitions in two consecutive sessions. Sessions are conducted in small groups to foster social support

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • St Vincent's University Hospital, Ireland

    collaborator OTHER

  • University College Dublin

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Brian O'Donoghue, MD, PhD · University College Dublin

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-02-01
Primary Completion
2028-03-31
Completion
2028-04-30

Countries

  • Ireland

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07386483 on ClinicalTrials.gov