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Psychotic DisordersPEPNCT07360665

Multimodal Physical Exercise Program (Physical Exercise for Psychosis) for People With Psychosis Treated With Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics

A study testing Physical Exercise in people with Psychotic Disorders and Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSD), run by University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro at 1 site in Portugal.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

People with psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, often experience significant difficulties in daily functioning, physical health, and quality of life. Long-acting injectable antipsychotics are an important part of treatment, but they can be associated with metabolic side effects and reduced physical fitness. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Physical Exercise
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
44 participants
Where
1 sitePortugal
Study dates
1 Jan 2026to 30 Nov 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age 18 years or older;
  • Clinical diagnosis of psychosis;
  • Currently undergoing treatment with long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs);
  • Follow-up at the Antipsychotic Clinic of ULSTMAD;
  • Certificate of autonomy issued by the treating psychiatrist, confirming the participant's capacity to engage in the study procedures;
  • Ability to provide written informed consent, either personally or through a legal representative;
  • (Experimental group only) Residence within a reasonable distance from the physical exercise intervention site to allow attendance at supervised sessions.

Who cannot join

  • Attendance below 85% of the supervised exercise sessions (experimental group);
  • Failure to complete the four main assessment time points;
  • Withdrawal or lack of informed consent at any stage of the study;
  • Not prescribed long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs);
  • Not affiliated with or followed at the Antipsychotic Clinic of ULSTMAD.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Portugal1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Local Health Unit of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro

    Vila Real, 5000

    Dulce Amélia Maia, MD, 259300500, dulcefm@chtmad.min-saude.pt

    dulcefm@chtmad.min-saude.pt

    Recruiting

Other trials in Portugal

About this study

Official title: PEP - Physical Exercise for Psychosis: A Study Protocol

People with psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, often experience significant difficulties in daily functioning, physical health, and quality of life. Long-acting injectable antipsychotics are an important part of treatment, but they can be associated with metabolic side effects and reduced physical fitness. Physical exercise has shown potential benefits for mental and physical health in this population; however, structured exercise programs implemented in real-world psychiatric services are still limited.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and clinical impact of a structured, multimodal physical exercise program for adults with psychosis who are receiving long-acting injectable antipsychotic treatment. The study aims to determine whether participation in a supervised exercise program can improve physical functioning, psychological well-being, and selected biological markers related to brain health and metabolism.

Read more

This study will be conducted in an outpatient psychiatric setting in Portugal and will include adults diagnosed with psychosis who are currently treated with long-acting injectable antipsychotics. Participants will be allocated to either an exercise group or a control group receiving usual care. The exercise program will last 24 weeks and will include aerobic, strength, mobility, and flexibility exercises, with supervised sessions conducted by qualified professionals.

Participants will be assessed at baseline, during the intervention, after completion of the program, and at follow-up. Assessments will include measures of physical function, body composition, psychological well-being, quality of life, and blood-based biomarkers such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, dopamine, serotonin, and metabolic indicators.

The main hypothesis of this study is that individuals who participate in the physical exercise program will show improvements in physical function, mood, and overall well-being compared with those receiving usual care alone. The results of this study are expected to provide practical evidence to support the integration of structured physical exercise as an adjunct to routine psychiatric care for people with psychosis.

Being tested
Physical Exercise
Medical subject headings
Psychotic Disorders, Mental Disorders

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Physical ExerciseOther

    Also called Multimodal Physical Exercise

    The program will be multimodal, integrating various exercise components. The aerobic component will consist of activities like walking, cycling, and circuit training. The functional strength component will include 2 to 3 exercises for the lower limbs, 2 to 3 exercises for the upper limbs, 1 to 2 exercises for the trunk and abdominal muscles, as well as 1 to 2 multi-joint exercises like burpees, swing kettlebell, among others. Lastly, the program will also incorporate mobility, balance, and flexibility exercises, such as stretching, postures, and joint mobilization.

Study groups in NCT07360665
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Patients diagnosed with psychosis who are receiving farmacological treatment and exercise program.ExperimentalPatients aged 18 years or older, diagnosed with psychosis, undergoing treatment with LAIs, and holding a certificate of autonomy issued by their psychiatrist, with the additional requirement for the experimental group to reside near the location of the physical exercise sessions.
Receives: Other: Physical Exercise
Patients diagnosed with psychosis who are receiving farmacological treatment.No interventionPatients aged 18 years or older, diagnosed with psychosis, undergoing treatment with LAIs, and holding a certificate of autonomy issued by their psychiatrist.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Body mass/weight

    Body mass/weight measured in kilograms using a calibrated scale.

    Measured: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 8-week post-intervention follow-up

  2. Body mass index (BMI)

    BMI calculated as weight (kg) / height (m²)

    Measured: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 8-week post-intervention follow-up

  3. Body fat percentage

    Body fat percentage assessed by electrical bioimpedance analysis

    Measured: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 8-week post-intervention follow-up

  4. Lean body mass

    Lean body mass (kg) assessed by electrical bioimpedance analysis

    Measured: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 8-week post-intervention follow-up

  5. Sit-to-Stand Test _ 30s

    Used to measure lower limb strength and endurance through the number of repetitions performed in a specific period.

    Measured: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and 8-week post-intervention follow-up

  6. Handgrip Test

    Used to assess upper limb muscle strength

    Measured: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and 8-week post-intervention follow-up

  7. European Health Interview Survey - Quality of Life 8-item Index (EUROHIS-QOL-8)

    The European Health Interview Survey - Quality of Life 8-item Index (EUROHIS-QOL-8) is an 8-item self-report questionnaire assessing overall quality of life across physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale, resulting in a total score ranging from 8 to 40. Higher total scores indicate better perceived quality of life. The scale demonstrates good psychometric properties and is suitable for use in clinical and research settings.

    Measured: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and 8-week post-intervention follow-up

  8. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 - PHQ-9

    The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a 9-item self-administered questionnaire designed to assess the severity of depressive symptoms based on the diagnostic criteria for major depressive episodes. Each item is scored on a 4-point Likert scale (0-3), yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 27. Higher total scores indicate greater severity of depressive symptoms. The PHQ-9 is widely used in clinical and research settings and demonstrates good psychometric properties.

    Measured: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and 8-week post-intervention follow-up

  9. Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS)

    The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) is a 20-item self-report questionnaire designed to assess affective states, comprising two independent 10-item subscales: Positive Affect (PANAS-PA) and Negative Affect (PANAS-NA). Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1-5), yielding subscale scores ranging from 10 to 50. Higher scores on the Positive Affect subscale indicate higher levels of positive affect, whereas higher scores on the Negative Affect subscale indicate higher levels of negative affect. The PANAS is widely used in clinical and research settings and demonstrates good psychometric properties.

    Measured: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and 8-week post-intervention follow-up

  10. Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels

    Serum BDNF concentration quantified using standardized Human BDNF ELISA Kit (Abcam). BDNF is a key neurotrophic marker associated with neuroplasticity and treatment-related neurobiological adaptations. Units: ng/mL.

    Measured: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and 8-week post-intervention follow-up

  11. Serum lipid profile

    Assessment of serum lipid parameters including total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (direct or calculated), and triglycerides, according to hospital laboratory reference standards. Units: mg/dL.

    Hospital laboratory references:

    • Total cholesterol: < 200 mg/dL
    • LDL cholesterol: < 130 mg/dL
    • HDL cholesterol: > 60 mg/dL
    • Triglycerides: < 150 mg/dL

    Measured: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and 8-week post-intervention follow-up

  12. Glycemic and metabolic markers

    Evaluation of fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as indicators of glycemic control and metabolic health.

    Units:

    • Glucose: mg/dL
    • HbA1c: %

    Hospital reference values:

    • Glucose: 74-106 mg/dL
    • HbA1c: 4.0-6.0 %

    Measured: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and 8-week post-intervention follow-up

  13. Serum Serotonin levels

    Quantification of serotonin concentration in serum using standardized laboratory procedures. Higher or lower concentrations will be interpreted as neurochemical modulation potentially associated with the exercise intervention and antipsychotic treatment.

    Unit: ng/mL

    Measured: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and 8-week post-intervention follow-up

  14. Serum Dopamine levels

    Quantification of dopamine concentration in serum using standardized laboratory procedures. Changes in dopamine concentration across timepoints will be analyzed as a marker of neurochemical modulation potentially associated with the exercise intervention and antipsychotic treatment.

    Unit: ng/mL or pg/mL

    Measured: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and 8-week post-intervention follow-up

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Height

    Height measured in meters using stadiometer (baseline only, if applicable)

    Measured: Baseline

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted22 Jan 2026
  2. Study start1 Jan 2026
  3. Primary completion31 Oct 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Nov 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Health services research
Allocation
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
44 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07360665
Sponsor's protocol ID
2024.04489.BDANA
Other IDs
CES REG. 1612
Acronym
PEP
Status last verified
Jan 2026
First submitted
17 Dec 2025
Last updated
29 Apr 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared. The dataset includes sensitive clinical, functional, and health-related information collected in a hospital setting. Data will be used exclusively for the purposes defined in the approved study protocol and in accordance with institutional ethical approval and data protection regulations.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Physical Exercise in people with Psychotic Disorders and Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSD), run by University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro at 1 site in Portugal.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Portugal. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Body mass/weight (time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 8-week post-intervention follow-up). The study lists 14 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Apr 2026.

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