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

Launched by CENTRE HOSPITALIER UNIVERSITAIRE DE SAINT ETIENNE · Jul 7, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring whether doing physical activity outdoors in green, natural environments can help reduce the negative symptoms of schizophrenia more effectively than exercising indoors. Negative symptoms include things like feeling less motivated, having less interest in activities, or showing less emotion. The study is based on the idea that being active is good for mental health, and being surrounded by nature might make exercise even more helpful for people with schizophrenia.

To take part, individuals need to be between 18 and 55 years old, have a diagnosis of schizophrenia with ongoing negative symptoms, and be regularly followed by a psychiatrist. Participants should be physically able to do exercise safely and have no serious joint, heart, or neurological problems. Pregnant women and people who drink a lot of alcohol or caffeine won’t be able to join. Those who participate will be asked to exercise either outdoors in green spaces or indoors, and researchers will see how this affects their symptoms and overall well-being. The study is not yet recruiting, but it hopes to provide new insights into how combining physical activity with nature might improve life for people living with schizophrenia.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Patients with schizophrenia, aged 18 to 55 years
• • Having persistent negative symptoms (SNS), negative symptoms self-assessment scale \> 7
• • Regularly monitored in the psychiatry department.
• • Have no medical contraindications to physical activity
• • Subject affiliated with or entitled to a social security system.
• • Subject having received informed information about the study and having co-signed, with the investigator, consent to participate in the study.
• • Male or female.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patient unsuitable for study in the opinion of the investigator
• • Any subject with chronic joint pathologies (example: repeated sprains, patellar or ligament problems) or cardiac pathologies.
• • Any subject presenting chronic or central neurological pathologies.
• • Any subject deprived of liberty or subject to legal protection
• • Excessive consumption of alcohol (\> 14 glasses per week) or caffeinated drinks (\> 400 mg of coffee per day).
• • Pregnant women.
• • Subject unable to understand the purpose and conditions of the study, unable to give consent.