NCT07058389

Synergy Between Physical Activity and Outdoor Green Environments to Reduce the Intensity of Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia.

Synergy Between Physical Activity and Outdoor Green Environments to Reduce the Intensity of Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia: a Pilot Study.

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 45 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 55 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Physical activity appears to be a novel and original adjunctive therapeutic approach in the management of patients with schizophrenia. It may help reduce schizophrenic symptoms, act as a pro-cognitive therapy, improve quality of life, and reduce cardiovascular comorbidities. Moreover, some evidence suggests that physical activity practiced in a natural environment has even more positive effects on mental health compared to physical activity carried out indoors or in urban settings. Indeed, greater exposure to greenery is associated with a better perception of general health and with reduced levels of cortisol, anxiety, and depression. No study has yet attempted to examine the impact of physical activity in green (outdoor) spaces compared to indoor physical activity on the negative symptoms of patients suffering from schizophrenia. The aim of this study is therefore to test this hypothesis.

Conditions

• Schizoaffective Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	8-week outdoor physical activity program	EXT group will perform aerobic and resistance exercises with a coach in adapted physical activities on a green environment in a parc. Sessions will be typically composed as follows: * Warm-up (20 min) * Aerobic exercise (30 min) at RPE 4 to 7 on the Borg scale * Muscular strengthening (25 min) at RPE 4 to 7 on the Borg scale * Cool-down, stretching and balance (15 min) EXR group will train for 8 weeks, twice a week for 1h30, following WHO recommendation.
OTHER	8-week indoor physical activity program	INT group will perform aerobic and resistance exercises with a coach in adapted physical activities, inside a conventional gym. Sessions will be typically composed as follows: * Warm-up (20 min) * Aerobic exercise (30 min) at RPE 4 to 7 on the Borg scale * Muscular strengthening (25 min) at RPE 4 to 7 on the Borg scale * Cool-down, stretching and balance (15 min) INT group will train for 8 weeks, twice a week for 1h30, following WHO recommendation.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-10-07
• Primary completion: 2027-06-01
• Completion: 2027-12-01
• First posted: 2025-07-10
• Last updated: 2025-11-25

Locations

1 site across 1 country: France