Exercise Target Brain Oscillations in Psychosis

Sprint Interval Training to Target Brain Oscillations in Psychosis

Previous studies have shown that cardiorespiratory fitness (how well the heart and lungs are able to function during physical activity) is often reduced in people with psychosis. The goal of this research study is to test the hypothesis that aerobic exercise can lead to small changes in brain functioning that can influence visual perception and attention in psychosis. The type of aerobic exercise used in this study is called Sprint Interval Training, or "SIT". Information from this study will help to develop interventions that enhance cognition and maximize the quality of life for persons living with psychosis.

The exercise procedure used is called SIT, which involves training rigorously on a stationary bike for a short period of time followed by a resting period.

Study Overview

• Status: Withdrawn
• Conditions: Schizophrenia; Schizoaffective Disorder; Psychosis
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Sprint Interval Training (SIT)

• Study Type: Observational

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Minnesota
    • Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55455
      • University of Minnesota

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 64 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Individuals in good health with a psychotic disorder.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Meet diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
• Are age 18-64
• Fluent in written and spoken English
• Have an outpatient status of at least 1 month prior to participation
• Has been on a stable dose of psychiatric medication for at least one month prior to participation (titration to a lower dose of psychotropic medications under supervision of a psychiatrist can be allowed at the discretion of the investigators)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current or possibility of current pregnancy (self-reported)
• Active suicidal ideation at screening or baseline assessments, or previous intent to act on suicidal ideation with a specific plan, preparatory acts, or an actual suicide attempt within the last 3 months, as indicated by the C-SSRS
• WTAR standardized score below 70
• American College of Sports Medicine contraindication to exercise

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Sprint Interval Training (SIT); The 1-session SIT protocol will include "Work" bouts performed at maximal intensity targets. Three "Work" bouts will be performed at 20-second intervals separated by 2 recovery bouts consisting of 2 minutes of low-intensity cycling. The SIT session will employ a standardized warm up and cool down of 3 minutes at a self-selected light intensity, per current guidelines. SIT sessions will take 15 minutes to complete.	Other: Sprint Interval Training (SIT); Active arm-- exercise dictated by protocol
Stretching; Stretching will include a low-intensity range of motion and stretching exercises with session duration (15 minutes) being matched to SIT.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Individual Alpha Frequency	A prominent neural oscillatory rhythm measured from resting EEG.	through study completion, on average 2 weeks
Change in Visual Attention	Computerized tasks that measure speeded sustained attention.	through study completion, on average 2 weeks
Change in Visual Perception	Computerized tasks that measure speeded visual perception	through study completion, on average 2 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Minnesota
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ian Ramsay, University of Minnesota

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 1, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 30, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): September 30, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 4, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 13, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): April 21, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 10, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 6, 2022
• Last Verified: October 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Exercise; Schizophrenia; Psychosis; Schizoaffective Disorder; Attention; Cognition
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Schizophrenia; Psychotic Disorders; Mental Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: PSYCH-2022-30666

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No