Mandini S, Morelli M, Belvederi Murri M, Grassi L, Masotti S, Simani L, Zerbini V, Raisi A, Piva T, Grazzi G, Mazzoni G
Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Center for Exercise Science and Sports, University of Ferrara, via Gramicia 35, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2022 Mar 25;14(1):48. doi: 10.1186/s13102-022-00440-2.
Aim of the study was to enrol a group of individuals with schizophrenia in a long-term moderate-intensity physical activity program and to evaluate its effects on their cognitive functions and cardiovascular risk factors. An additional aim of the study was the comparison of the adherence to the physical activity program before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Forty sedentary patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (mean age 46.4 ± 9.6) followed by the Public Mental Health Department of Ferrara were included in the study. 28 of them followed a 1-year walking program consisting of two guided walking sessions/week, while 12 maintained their sedentary lifestyle and followed the usual Cognitive Rehabilitation program. To the participants following the walking program VO peak and walking speed were assessed at baseline and at the end of the program. All participants were evaluated on blood pressure and anthropometric variable. Cognitive functions were assessed with the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP) and with the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) questionnaires.
The 20 participants completing the walking program displayed significant improvements in cognitive functions (d 0.35 for SCIP and 0.26 for FAB), with a positive correlation between SCIP score and the number of sessions attended (R = 0.86, p < 0.001), evident in the patients attending to at least 75 of the 100 walking sessions. Walking speed and VOpeak increased significantly and a decrease of body weight, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure was also observed. The adherence to the walking program registered during Covid-19 period did not differ from that observed before the pandemic. The 12 CG (Control Group) patients maintaining the sedentary lifestyle did not display improvements of cognitive functions.
The main finding of this study is the improvement of cognitive functions which is significantly related to the number of walking sessions attended by participants with schizophrenia. The walking program, guided by exercise specialists, proved to be an enjoyable activity for people with mental disorder feasible even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trial registration Retrospectively registered on ISRCTN as non-randomized trial (n. ISRCTN14763786).
本研究的目的是招募一组精神分裂症患者参加长期中等强度的体育活动计划，并评估其对认知功能和心血管危险因素的影响。该研究的另一个目的是比较在COVID-19大流行之前和期间对体育活动计划的依从性。
费拉拉公共精神卫生部门随访的40名久坐不动的精神分裂症患者（平均年龄46.4±9.6岁）被纳入研究。其中28人参加了为期1年的步行计划，每周进行两次有指导的步行训练，而12人保持久坐不动的生活方式并遵循常规的认知康复计划。对参加步行计划的参与者在基线和计划结束时评估VO峰值和步行速度。对所有参与者进行血压和人体测量变量评估。使用精神病学认知障碍筛查量表（SCIP）和额叶评估量表（FAB）问卷评估认知功能。
完成步行计划的20名参与者在认知功能方面有显著改善（SCIP为0.35，FAB为0.26），SCIP评分与参加的训练次数呈正相关（R = 0.86，p < 0.001），这在至少参加了100次步行训练中的75次的患者中很明显。步行速度和VO峰值显著增加，体重、BMI、收缩压和舒张压也有所下降。COVID-19期间记录的步行计划依从性与大流行之前观察到的没有差异。保持久坐不动生活方式的12名对照组（CG）患者的认知功能没有改善。
本研究的主要发现是认知功能的改善，这与精神分裂症患者参加的步行训练次数显著相关。由运动专家指导的步行计划被证明是一种对精神障碍患者来说令人愉快的活动，即使在COVID-19大流行期间也是可行的。试验注册：作为非随机试验在ISRCTN上进行回顾性注册（编号ISRCTN14763786）。
