An observational study in Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder and Poor Memory, sponsored by BC Mental Health and Addictions Research Institute. Recruiting at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 19 Years to 45 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-06-08.
Sponsored by BC Mental Health and Addictions Research Institute · Observational
To determine the effects of aerobic exercise on hippocampal volumes and severity of psychotic symptoms in a population of psychosis patients compared to healthy age/gender matched volunteers. Psychosis patients often suffer from a number of cognitive difficulties, including poor memory function, poor problem-solving capacity and difficulties with attention and concentration. Poor fitness and associated neurovascular deficits may arise from various sources, including poor mental health, adverse side effects of antipsychotic medications and independent cardiovascular deficits that may be due to neurodevelopmental abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia. These factors are likely contributing to markedly increased stroke risk and early mortality. These problems are not well addressed by current clinical treatments, nor is neurovascular stroke risk readily or accurately detected in clinic.In contrast, evidence from aging research strongly suggests that increased cardiovascular fitness may provide numerous cognitive benefits by promoting brain growth, particularly in the frontal lobes and the hippocampi, while reducing the risk of stroke. The current study will measure the effects of aerobic exercise on brain volumes in a population of chronic psychosis patients to determine if 1) hippocampal volumes increase in response to exercise and 2) if parallel improvements in cognitive functioning occur. Additionally, baseline and follow-up stroke risk will be assessed using a novel non-invasive approach of retinal imaging to determine the presence of underlying neurovascular pathology.
This is a 12-week, randomized trial with two parallel groups. Throughout the trial, subjects will be treated on their prescribed dose of medication. Once informed consent is obtained, subjects and healthy volunteers will be randomly assigned to either an aerobic or a resistance exercise program (N = 30 per diagnostic group in each of two exercise conditions). Patients will continue to receive their antipsychotics and other prescribed medications. Healthy volunteer data will be used to establish normal exercise-induced neuroplasticity in a non-psychiatric, non-medicated population and to establish differences in retinal vessel integrity between patients and healthy volunteers. All training will be conducted at the UBC Hospital and at dedicated exercise training facilities at the University of British Columbia. All fitness assessments (based on the initial 6-minute walk test) and exercise sessions will be monitored by trained research assistants (RAs) under the guidance of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology-Certified Exercise Physiologists (CSEP-CEPs). The RAs will receive pre-study exercise training from the CSEP-CEPs. During the course of the study, the training intensity will be changed according to the individual participant's response and needs via the CSEP-CEPs and RAs.
Clinical data (current medications, current diagnoses, symptom profiles, resting heart rate, blood pressure, weight) will be collected on the hospital wards at baseline and follow-up. Neuroimaging and retinal imaging will be ascertained at the UBC MRI Research Centre at baseline and follow-up. Concurrent baseline assessments of executive functioning, memory capacity and crystallized IQ will be performed at baseline. Cognitive measures, excluding IQ, will be re-assessed at follow-up. Follow-up measures will only be collected in cases were patients are still available and willing to participate in study activities.
3,539 studies on the registry are indexed under Schizophrenia; 473 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 60 is below the median of 178 across 503 observational studies indexed under Schizophrenia.
Browse Schizophrenia studies →This is the only study on the registry with BC Mental Health and Addictions Research Institute as lead sponsor.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Sixty in-patients with chronic schizophrenia will be recruited at UBC Hospital and 60 age and gender-matched healthy (asymptomatic) community volunteers will be recruited through local community paper advertisements or posters at local community centres.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Increase hippocampal volume with aerobic training in schizophrenic and healthy volunteers.
Hippocampal volumes will be measured from structural MRI scans. T1-weighted 3D SPGR (spoiled gradient recalled) and high-resilution T2- weighted structural images will be obtained for the purposes of volumetric assessment of the hippocampi and the whole brain
Time frame: Base-line, 8 and 12 weeks
Increases in hippocampal volumes will be positively associated with improvements in working memory performance in schizophrenia.
The Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT), will be used to assess memory function. Multiple versions of the HVLT exist (12) so practice effects will be minimized. The Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCF), in which subjects are asked to reproduce a complex line drawing from memory, will be used to assess attention and working memory.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4, 8 and 12.
Plan to share: Undecided
The record gives a start of Jul 2011, a primary completion of Jun 2026 and a completion of Dec 2026. It does not say whether these dates are actual or estimated.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.