Artículo de revisión

Published on 15 de septiembre de 2023 | http://doi.org/10.5867/medwave.2023.08.2724

Physical exercise as an intervention in people at clinical high-risk for psychosis: A narrative review

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Summary of primary clinical studies analyzing the relationship between physical exercise and clinical and neurobiological variables in people at clinical high risk for psychosis.
Study (country)DesignParticipantsInterventionClinical outcomesNeurobiological outcomes
22 (United States) [22]Observational29 participants with clinical high risk for psychosis and 27 healthy controlsNo interventionParticipants with clinical high risk for psychosis showed more sedentary lifestylesParticipants with clinical high risk for psychosis showed a lower medial temporal volume, with a moderate correlation with physical exercise
24 (Canada) [24]Observational40 participants with clinical high risk for psychosis and 40 healthy controlsNo interventionParticipants with clinical high risk for psychosis exhibited lower levels of outdoor activities and physical training, unrelated to clinical symptoms or functioning. This group showed greater barriers to physical exercise related to self-perception.Not explored
37 (United States) [37]Experimental (randomized clinical trial)12 participants with clinical high risk for psychosisModerate (24 sessions) or vigorous (36 sessions) physical exerciseImprovement in social functioning, psychotic symptomatology, and neurocognitionIncreased functional connectivity between the hippocampus and occipital cortex
20 (United States) [20]Observational51 participants with clinical high risk for psychosis, and 37 healthy controlsNo interventionParticipants with clinical high risk for psychosis exhibited less physical activity and more motivation-related barriers to its execution. A negative correlation existed between perceived physical fitness and negative symptomatology and disorganizationNot explored
19 (United States) [19]Observational40 participants with clinical high risk for psychosis and 40 healthy controlsNo interventionParticipants with clinical high risk for psychosis showed a higher body mass index and lower maximal aerobic capacityNot explored
18 (United States) [18]Experimental (randomized clinical trial)32 participants at clinical high risk for psychosisHigh-intensity physical exercise twice a week for three monthsThe intervention group exhibited an improvement in cognitive performance and a decrease in psychotic symptomatologyPreservation of hippocampal volume and increase in its connectivity.

Source: Prepared by the authors, based on references [18–20,22,24,37].