The effect of psychomotor therapy on mental health in in-patient schizophrenia treatment: A randomized, double-blind intervention study

Background: It has been shown that exercise programmes can influence mental health in patients with mental health disorders. Objective: The aim of this study was to verify the suitability of psychomotor therapy as a supporting method in the treatment of hospitalized patients with schizophrenia. Methods: In this randomized controlled double-blind study 142 in-patients with schizophrenia (age: mean 50.2 years, SD = 6.5, range 21-62) participated. In comparison with a control group (n = 60), the experimental group (n = 82) received an additional psychomotor therapy programme (3 times a week for a period of 14 weeks). The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was used to evaluate mental health status. Results: Participants in the psychomotor therapy demonstrated significant improvements for all subscales of the BPRS. Large effect sizes were found for subscales Anxiety/Depression, Energy, Thought Disturbance and Activation, and medium for Hostility. No significant difference between genders was found. Conclusion: The implementation of a psychomotor therapy programme in the treatment of hospitalized patients with schizophrenia has a significant positive effect on their mental health.