Aerobic Exercise for Cognition in Schizophrenia

Aerobic Exercise for Cognition in Schizophrenia

This study will evaluate the ability of aerobic exercise (AE) to improve cognition in people with schizophrenia. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two interventions: (1) aerobic exercise class (stationary bicycle, or "spin" class) for up to 45 minutes three times per week for 12 weeks, or (2) balance and stretching class for up to 45 minutes three times per week for 12 weeks.

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a severe, chronic, and disabling psychotic illness that affects approximately 87,000 Veterans. Previous studies have reported improved short-term memory with AE, but there in a lack of information on cognitive effects of AE in SCZ. The investigators want to determine if twelve weeks of AE training improves cognitive function in Veterans with SCZ.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
• maintained on stable doses of outpatient psychiatric medications for at least 30 days
• compliant with outpatient follow-up
• have a stable place to live
• access to transportation to the hospital
• doing less than 20 minutes per week of regular physical activity in the past month

Exclusion Criteria:

• Bipolar disorder;
• active substance dependence within the prior 30 days
• more than 2 psychiatric admissions within the prior six months
• known HIV infection or AIDS
• history of traumatic brain injury
• current seizure disorder
• Alzheimer's disease or other dementia
• clinical history of mild cognitive impairment
• Parkinson's disease
• other current clinically significant neurological disease
• unstable medical condition that would be expected to interfere with fitness training
• significant hearing or visual impairment