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

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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 subdomains. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found no interaction effects of time and group, indicating equal effects in both groups. Separate within-group analysis unexpectedly showed trends of differential effects in the learning domain, as HIIT showed post-intervention improvement in verbal but not visual learning, while AVG showed improvement in visual but not verbal learning. HIIT and AVG improve neurocognition equally, suggesting that both interventions may be applied to target neurocognition in schizophrenia. Future research should investigate trends towards possible differential effects of exercise modes on neurocognitive subdomains. NCT02205684, 31.07.14.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all participants in EPHAPS. The authors also thank Ole-Jakob Bredrup, Helge Bjune, Ellen Gurine Faervik, Jan Freddy Hovland, Camilla Lahn-Johannessen, Bjørn Einar Oscarsen and Carolina Toll.

Funding

The EPHAPS study received funding from South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authorities (Helse Sør-Øst) (first author), Vestfold Hospital Trust, Norwegian Extra Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation through EXTRA funds, Norwegian Research network in Severe Mental Illness (NORSMI), NORMENT/KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Torgeir Lindvik’s Trust and Civitan International.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Mail Office Box 2168, 3103, Tønsberg, Norway

    Gry Bang-Kittilsen, Jens Egeland, Tom Langerud Holmen, Therese Torgersen Bigseth, Jon Mordal & John Abel Engh

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Jens Egeland & Pål Ulleberg

  3. Faculty of Humanities, Sports and Educational Science, University of Southeast Norway, Horten, Norway

    Eivind Andersen

Authors
  1. Gry Bang-Kittilsen
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  2. Jens Egeland
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  3. Tom Langerud Holmen
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  4. Therese Torgersen Bigseth
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  5. Eivind Andersen
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  6. Jon Mordal
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  7. Pål Ulleberg
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  8. John Abel Engh
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Contributions

Study conception and design were initiated by JE and JAE. GB-K, JE, TLH, TTB, EA, JM, and JAE contributed to data collection, preparation of the data base and to the analyses of the data and interpretation of the results. PU contributed to the analyses of the data and interpretation of the results. GB-K wrote the manuscript as first author. All authors contributed to and critically reviewed previous versions of the manuscript and approved the final version.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gry Bang-Kittilsen.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics of Southern and Eastern Norway (file number 2014/372/REK SOER-OEST).

Consent to participate

Informed and written consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Bang-Kittilsen, G., Egeland, J., Holmen, T.L. et al. High-intensity interval training and active video gaming improve neurocognition in schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 271, 339–353 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-020-01200-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-020-01200-4

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