The Effect of Aerobic Exercise on the Severity of Suicidal Thoughts and Symptoms in Patients with Schizophrenia
| Author | Sara Sheikh Fendreski | en |
| Author | Hamid Nazari | en |
| Author | Mostafa Roshanzadeh | en |
| Author | Mojtaba Abolhassan Nejad | en |
| Author | Davoud Oudi | en |
| Orcid | Sara Sheikh Fendreski [0009-0009-1173-007X] | en |
| Orcid | Hamid Nazari [0000-0002-6507-4743] | en |
| Orcid | Mostafa Roshanzadeh [0000-0002-4982-4364] | en |
| Orcid | Davoud Oudi [0000-0003-2715-1784] | en |
| Issued Date | 2026-03-31 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Schizophrenia is one of the most severe and debilitating mental illnesses. To date, there is no definitive or proven treatment for this disease, and researchers continue to seek less complicated and more effective interventions to reduce symptom severity and suicide risk in these patients. Objectives: Given the possible effects of aerobic activity on reducing symptom severity and suicidal thoughts, we aimed to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise on the severity of symptoms and suicidal thoughts in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 60 patients with schizophrenia hospitalized in psychiatric wards. Participants were selected via convenience sampling and then randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The intervention group underwent aerobic exercise for 8 weeks, on even days, for 30 minutes per session. Inclusion criteria were hospitalization in a psychiatric ward with a diagnosis of schizophrenia based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria, and sufficient physical health to perform exercise. Data were collected using the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) before, and at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the intervention, and analyzed using SPSS version 24 at a significance level of 0.05. Results: Data analysis indicated a significant decrease in the mean score of schizophrenia symptom severity in the intervention group at weeks 2, 4, and 8 after the intervention. The mean Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation score did not show a statistically significant difference between the groups before the intervention; however, the mean Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation score decreased significantly in the intervention group at weeks 2, 4, and 8 after the intervention (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Aerobic activity has many positive effects in reducing the severity of both negative and positive symptoms, as well as suicidal thoughts, in patients with schizophrenia. It can be used as a complementary treatment to achieve better therapeutic outcomes in these patients. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/ijpbs-161795 | en |
| Keyword | Aerobic Exercise | en |
| Keyword | Positive and Negative Symptoms | en |
| Keyword | Schizophrenia | en |
| Keyword | Suicidal Thoughts | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | The Effect of Aerobic Exercise on the Severity of Suicidal Thoughts and Symptoms in Patients with Schizophrenia | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |
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