As We Were and As We Should Be, Combined Exercise Training in Adults With Schizophrenia: CORTEX‐SP Study Part II

Objective To determine the changes in health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and sleep quality following a supervised combined exercise (EX) program compared to a Treatment‐As‐Usual (TAU) and to analyze the relationship between the differences in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and HRQoL domains in people with schizophrenia (SZ). Methods The SZ ( n = 112, 41.3 ± 10.4 year) was randomly assigned into a TAU control group ( n = 53) or EX‐group ( n = 59, 3 days/week). The 36‐item Short‐Form Health Survey questionnaire assessed HRQoL and the sleep quality analysis (accelerometry). Results After the intervention (20 weeks), physical functioning ( ∆ = 12.9%), general health ( ∆ = 15.3%), mental health ( ∆ = 8.3%), physical component summary (PCS) ( ∆ = 5.1%), and sleep efficiency ( ∆ = 1.9%) increased ( p < 0.05) in the EX, with no significant changes in the TAU for any domains studied. There were significant differences between groups whose EX showed improvements ( p < 0.05) compared to TAU in physical functioning, general health, PCS, and sleep efficiency. A greater CRF was associated with better values in physical functioning, role‐physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, and PCS after the exercise program in SZ. Conclusions A 20‐week supervised combined exercise intervention program for SZ increased sleep efficiency and physical functioning, general and mental health, and PCS scores. This could lead to a critical HRQoL change from how they were to how they should be. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03509597