Baduanjin Versus Brisk Walking for Cognition in Schizophrenia

Mindful Exercise Baduanjin Versus Brisk Walking for Cognitive Function in Patients With Schizophrenia

The current study intends to recruit participants with schizophrenia for the practice of Baduanjin, brisk walking, and health education after enrollment. The study also including a maintenance program. Cognitive and physical function assessments will be conducted before, after, and during follow-up tests. The research hypothesis posits that both Baduanjin and brisk walking will confer beneficial effects on various aspects of cognitive and physical functions.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Schizophrenia; Exercise; Condition
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Baduanjin exercsie; Behavioral: Brisk walking; Behavioral: Health education

Detailed Description

Cognitive function deficits are core features in patients with schizophrenia. These deficits need active intervention to prevent functional decline. Baduanjin and brisk walking show promise as interventions in patients with schizophrenia. This study investigated the effects of Baduanjin exercise versus brisk walking in patients with schizophrenia.

This study will be a single-blind, 3-arm, parallel, randomized controlled trial.

A total of 72 patients with schizophrenia will be enrolled and randomly assigned to the Baduanjin group, brisk walking group or control group. The intervention group will practice Badunjin exercise. While participants in brisk walking group will receive brisk walking at the same duration. The controls will watch videos that are not aimed at improving physical exertion. Maintenance programs will also be conducted for participants to encourage practicing in exercise after intervention. All group will undergo evaluation at three time points: baseline, immediately after intervention and 4-week follow up after intervention. The primary outcome will be cognitive function and physical function. Secondary outcomes will include mood, sleep quality, and quality of live.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 63
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 833
    • Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Having a diagnosis of schizophrenia according to the DSM-5.
2. Who will be above 20-65 years of age .
3. Having a stable mental status without shift in medication and keep in same dose for at least one month.
4. Being able to walk independently for 50 meters.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Serious physical conditions that will impede participation, such as cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disease or pulmonary system disease.
2. Visual or auditory impairment that precludes completion of assessment.
3. Acute psychosis requiring hospitalization.
4. Presence of severe withdrawal or profound cognitive disability that cause difficulties in following instructions.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Baduanjin; Parcipants will practice baduanjin exercise.	Behavioral: Baduanjin exercsie; The Baduanjin exercise consists of 8 postures, with emphasis on different body parts. The exercise is commonly practiced as follows: (1) 2 hands holding up the heavens, (2) drawing the bow to shoot the eagle, (3) separating the heaven and earth, (4) wise owl gazing backwards, (5) swaying the head and shaking the tail, (6) 2 hands holding the feet to strengthen the waist, (7) clenching the fists and glaring fiercely, and (8) bouncing on the toes.; Other Names: Mindful baduanjin
Active Comparator: Brisk walking; Parcipants will perform brisk walking activities.	Behavioral: Brisk walking; The brisk walking will be gradually increased physical exertion from light to moderate of intensity. During the training period, the heart rate of participants will be monitored.; Other Names: aerobic walking
Other: health education; Parcipants will receive health education classes and watch sport related videos.	Behavioral: Health education; Health education will include lecture classes. Video watching will watch videos which were not aim at improving physical exertion, such as sports games or sports related variety shows; Other Names: video watching

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change scores of 6-minute walk test	This test evaluates cardiovascular fitness and walking speed.	Baseline, immediate after treatment, 4-week follow up
Change scores of 30-second chair stand test	This test evaluates muscular endurance of lower-extremities.	Baseline, immediate after treatment, 4-week follow up
Change scores of Timed up-and-go test	This test evaluates functional mobility, agility and balance	Baseline, immediate after treatment, 4-week follow up
Change scores of dual task Timed up-and-go test (manual)	This test requires carry a cup of water 3 cm from the top of the cup while performing the Timed up-and-go test. It evaluates dual task performance.	Baseline, immediate after treatment, 4-week follow up
Change scores of dual task Timed up-and-go test (cognitive)	This test combine serial three counting and Timed up-and-go test simultaneously. It evaluates dual task performance.	Baseline, immediate after treatment, 4-week follow up
Change score of the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS)	BACS is a battery of cognition tests that measure verbal memory, working memory, motor speed, verbal fluency, attention and processing speed, and executive function.The BACS is comprised of seven subtests: (1) the List Learning Test, (2) Digit Sequencing Test, (3) Token Motor Test, (4) Category Instance Test, (5) Controlled Oral Word Association Test, (6) Symbol Coding, and (7) Tower of London Test.	Baseline, immediate after treatment, 4-week follow up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change score of Depression, Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21)	DASS-21 is a self-report questionnaire that measure symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.	Baseline, immediate after treatment, 4-week follow up
Change score of Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index	PSQI is a self-report assessment which contains 19 items to measure sleep quality	Baseline, immediate after treatment, 4-week follow up

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Chen Chyi-Rong, Master, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Branch

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 16, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 15, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): January 15, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 18, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 18, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): January 26, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 29, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 24, 2025
• Last Verified: May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: schizophrenia, mindful exercise, exercise, cognition
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Mental Disorders; Schizophrenia
• Other Study ID Numbers: 202400006B0

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No