High-intensity interval training and active video gaming improve neurocognition in schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial.

High-intensity interval training and active video gaming improve neurocognition in schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2020 Nov 06;: Authors: Bang-Kittilsen G, Egeland J, Holmen TL, Bigseth TT, Andersen E, Mordal J, Ulleberg P, Engh JA Abstract There is a need for treatments targeting neurocognitive dysfunctions in schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to investigate the neurocognitive effect of aerobic high-intensity interval training (HIIT). A comparison group performed sport simulating active video gaming (AVG). We anticipated that HIIT would improve neurocognition beyond any effect of AVG, due to engagement in higher intensity cardiorespiratory demands. Recent research on the beneficial neurocognitive effect of AVG challenges this expectation but added new relevance to comparing the two interventions. This is an observer-blinded randomized controlled trial. Eighty-two outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia were allocated to HIIT (n = 43) or AVG (n = 39). Both groups received two supervised sessions per week for 12 weeks. The attrition rate was 31%, and 65% of the participants were defined as protocol compliant study completers. Intention-to-treat analyses showed significant improvements in the neurocognitive composite score from baseline to post-intervention and from baseline to 4 months follow-up in the total sample. The same pattern of results was found in several subd...
Source: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience - Category: Psychiatry Tags: Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci Source Type: research